Pakistan Association Dubai inducts two Emiratis on board

The Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) has become the first social organisation to do so.

The Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) has become the first social organisation that has implemented the recently announced Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Leadership Development programme where they have inducted two Emirati officials on their board for a more collaborative effort to bring the communities together.  
A MoU was signed appointing Mohammed Shael Al Saadi, CEO strategic affairs at the Department of Economic Development, and Laila Aljassmi, Ex-CEO of health policy and strategy sector at the Dubai Health Authority, to the PAD board. They are the members of the Social Leadership Programme from the Community Development Authority (CDA) in collaboration with the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Leadership Programme.
Dr Faisel Ikram, president of PAD, said: "This new leadership programme will see senior level local Emiratis who will be working as advisors to various NGOs and social organisations. We are the first organisation to respond to the initiative and have included CEOs into our board. As part of the board, they will be understanding, learning and at the same time advising us on how to excel in our objectives and will help us form some link to the government. They will act as a bridge and give us a chance to learn from their experience. They can understand how a social organisation runs and we can know how the government entities function. It is a great way to bring communities together." 

Own an Hour 

Also, PAD concluded their pilot project titled Own an Hour (OHP) volunteering programme where a number of youngsters got a chance to hone their skills and are now ready to serve the society. 
Around 50 Pakistani students who participated in the programme were felicitated and given certificates by Omar Al Muthanna, CEO of the social regulatory and licensing agency of the CDA. This was a first-time initiation aligned with the Year of Zayed for school and university students who wanted to polish their skills and are passionate to give back to the community. 
The 'Own an Hour' programme consisted of total five modules wherein each module was further divided into various learning and practical training sessions. The modules were creative design, web design and development, film and photography, journalism and media and event management. 
Programme coordinator for OHP Huda Kanwal said: "Each module was further divided into two parts; learning (25 hours) and practical (75 hours). The module-based training required volunteers to attend two sessions every month till the completion of the programme." 
Honoring the students with token of appreciations on the occasion Dr Muthanna said: "PAD has always paid special attention to the youth; it is wonderful to see the positive impact that has on the youth". 
Fifteen-year-old Shehzeen Hashmi, who completed the OHP, said: "The Own an Hour programme was an initiative that really helped all the volunteers who gave their hours to gain experience and useful skills to use in their practical lives. I was part of the events and management session and the skills I learned helped me to apply my knowledge in school. Overall, it was a useful programme that pushed all the volunteers to gain experience. 
saman@khaleejtimes.com 

What the law says 

Based on the Law No. 12 of 2017 Regulating Civil Society Organisations in the Emirate of Dubai, article 23, Boards of Directors of Civil Society Associations (A), a civil society association will have a board of directors comprising not less than five members - at least two of whom are UAE nationals. The board of directors will be responsible for administering the affairs of the association and providing the means required for conducting its activities and achieving its objectives.