In line with The UAE Initiative for Connection with Orphans and Minors, launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who has declared 2015 as the UAEs Year of Innovation; Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) organised an orientation meeting on the various aspects of its Ruwad (Pioneers) initiative.

The meeting which was held at DEWAs Sustainable Building in Al Quoz aimed to promote creativity and innovation among orphans in the UAE, and was attended by representatives from Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation (AMAF) and INJAZ UAE Foundation - a member of Junior Achievement Worldwide, as well as 60 students and their guardians.

In a speech delivered on behalf of HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, DEWA MD & CEO, Khawla Al Mehairi, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at DEWA, welcomed DEWAs guests, reaffirming that the meeting is in line with the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to provide a happy life for all UAE citizens and residents and achieve the highest levels of satisfaction for all community segments.

As part of our strategy to support Dubai Plan 2021 which aims to make Dubai a tolerant and inclusive society that embraces common civic values, DEWAs Ruwad initiative underlines our commitment to building bridges of communication, sponsoring philanthropic and social events nationally and internationally, and working towards achieving the public good. This has consistently been materialised through a wide array of activities, and ambitious sustainable social initiatives year-round. The initiative is not limited to communicating with the orphans, but also will help them to gain experience and skills required to choose career paths, and thus enable them to engage positively in society to serve the public interest and contribute to the preparation of a qualified generation in line with our motto For Generations To Come, said Al Mehairi.

Supporting The UAE Initiative for Connection with Orphans and Minors launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which involves sending a group of orphans to have training outside UAE in the field of creativity, illustrates our deep belief that DEWAs role exceeds the fulfilment of the tasks directly associated with our business areas. We are also committed to being an active member of the society and promoting social development endeavours at all levels. We are not only concerned with providing water and electricity services, but also support all social efforts that boost the growth and prosperity of Dubai and the UAE. DEWA has launched, sponsored and endorsed a wide range of social initiatives that seek to advance the society, added Al Mehairi.

DEWA has participated in several annual social events both in Dubai and on the global arena, launched its own awareness campaigns and signed several memorandums of understanding with the private and government institutions involved in serving the society and raising public awareness about future challenges. At DEWA, we work in keeping with our vision of becoming a sustainable innovative world-class utility, which we will definitely achieve by instilling the principles of sustainability and social service. We are determined to take our commitment to the highest possible levels. DEWA achieved 87% society satisfaction in 2014, compared to 82% in 2013, concluded Al Mehairi.

We extend our thankfulness and appreciation to DEWA for their trust in our organisation and their support to orphans and minors in the UAE. This demonstrates DEWAs leading role in social development and its endeavours in nurturing and developing all segments of the community. This initiative and other humanitarian programmes help empower minors in the UAE, and highlight the social development of the nation, under our prudent leadership, which has always been a pioneering model for civic and humanitarian development. This is also in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make the UAE a leading country in the field of empowering orphans and minors, said HE Khalid Al Thani, Deputy of Secretary General, Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation (AMAF).

We are proud of our partnership DEWA and very pleased to be part of this leading Initiative, which plays an important role in supporting the national strategy of nurturing youth and developing their future careers. Injaz is committed to applying best international practices in the field of developing the skills and potentials of students with the latest programmes that enable them to succeed in the current and future business market, said Sulaf Saleh Al Zu'bi, CEO of INJAZ UAE.

Targeting various educational levels with a special focus on the 11th grade, Ruwad is a three-phase programme that kicks off with local training at DEWAs Sustainable Building on 29 July. A team of 20 outstanding UAE orphan participants will be selected to move on to the second phase that entitles them to travel to Singapore for five days starting 15 August, accompanied by DEWA, AMAF and INJAZ staff, to attend intensive workshops on creativity and innovation at the International Creativity Camp in collaboration with the Junior Achievement Organisation.

They will work with Singaporean students to exchange creative ideas and participate in competitions that will develop their creative and innovative skills, allowing them to prepare a creative social project that serves the UAE under the patronage of DEWA. The students will present their projects on their return home. In the third phase, the students will attend an educational orientation course hosted and organised by DEWA at Jebel Ali Power Station, the Sustainable Building, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, DEWA Academy and Mai Dubai factory.

The introductory meeting included an interactive discussion as well as a Q&A session for parents. At the end of the event, the parents expressed their satisfaction with the activities and praised the leading role of DEWA in social development.