In line with national efforts to fight the spread of novel Coronavirus-COVID 19, "UAE Volunteers", the national campaign in the UAE, launched two hotlines to communicate with members of the community through virtual volunteering , giving the opportunities to both Emiratis and residents to promote social participation, cooperation and solidarity.

The campaign announced the launch of two new hotlines to give remote volunteers the opportunity to participate in the "We Are Your Family Phone Initiative" through the which allows volunteers to communicate with senior Emiratis, respond to their calls and inquiries, as they are the most vulnerable group exposed to danger, and the second hotline is the "Mental Health Hotline", which provides valuable counselling services through psychiatrists and social counselors volunteers to give counselling services for any individual who may be subjected to psychological or social pressures.

On this occasion, Hessa Tahlak, Assistant Undersecretary of Social Development at the Ministry of Community Development and official spokesperson of the "UAE Volunteers" Campaign, stated that enriching community responsibility and volunteering among community members requires mobilizing all energies and efforts and employing flexible solutions that keep pace with community development to interact between different institutions and individuals, especially under the current circumstances, this is reflected in strengthening of community cohesion and cohesion.

Tahlak said that the "We are Your Family Phone Initiative" is a volunteering community initiative through communication and interaction and phone calls with senior Emiratis; provided for those volunteers who are registered in the national volunteering and senior Emiratis platform to identify the needs of senior Emiratis and satisfy their requirements through the Ministry of Community Development in partnership with different authorities.

She stated that the "We are Your Family Phone Initiative" achieves social convergence in the current health situations and conditions, identifies the different needs of senior Emiratis and seeks to satisfy their requirements, through the Ministry of Community Development or partnership with other authorities, noting that the initiative has other encouraging goals such as gathering different generations together to benefit from the experiences of senior Emiratis, promote volunteering spirit and community services, instill noble values among the members of society, as well as being a volunteering social humanitarian gesture that breaks daily routine and isolation in the current social distancing situation."

Mental Health Hotline Initiative The official spokesperson of UAE Volunteers campaign called psychiatrists and social counselors of different nationalities residing in the UAE to register as volunteers to achieve the goals and objectives of the "Mental Health Hotline Initiative", an initiative offered for free 24/7 to support those seeking help. The service will be operated by Mental Health Volunteers who will work remotely anywhere and anytime with a computer and a secure internet connection.

The volunteers.ae platform can be reached at: www.volunteers.ae, or by calling 800 - VOLAE (80086523), or e-mailing: [email protected], for inquiries, or to browse the platform's various volunteering opportunities, advantages and services that support volunteers and volunteering in the UAE.

WAM