UAE rescuers receive official welcome home after Myanmar mission
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Al Etihad
2 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Emirates Red Crescent to broaden projects, services in ‘new stage of expansion'
19 Aug 2025 23:31 AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)As the UAE continues to lead from the frontlines of humanitarian efforts, the Emirates Red Crescent Authority (ERC) stands as a steadfast force on the ground, its extended arm of compassion and care. On World Humanitarian Day, the ERC reaffirms its commitment to expanding its relief and philanthropic initiatives, further widening its reach across the globe. In a statement issued to Aletihad , Ahmed Sari Al Mazrouei, Secretary-General of the ERC, revealed that the organisation is about to 'enter a new stage of expansion,' with plans to broaden the scope of its projects and services. 'We are getting ready to expand the scope of our activities in the areas of social empowerment and development. The goal of these initiatives is to improve our capacity to assist and care for certain groups both domestically and abroad,' Al Mazrouei the global scene, the UAE's humanitarian endeavours have gained a great deal of respect and attention through the years - and the ERC has played a key role in this mission to help the underprivileged and support the vulnerable.'We affirm that the ERC continues to strengthen its position as one of the region's leading humanitarian and charitable institutions,' Al Mazrouei UAE has earned praise for its strategic planning and ability to provide relief to crisis-hit communities in record year's World Humanitarian Day comes as UAE aid continues to pour in for regions reeling under the devastating impact of conflict and disaster. For many Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Emirati aid under the Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 has become a lifeline. According to UN reports, 44% of the total international assistance delivered to the enclave came from the UAE. The UAE has also made significant investments in long-term development, resilience building, and social empowerment programmes in a number of nations, in addition to providing emergency relief to those hit by disasters.
Al Etihad
4 hours ago
- Al Etihad
UAE launches first 'Youth Social Mission' under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3
AL ARISH (WAM) The Federal Youth Authority has announced the launch of the first group of participants in the 'Youth Social Missions Programme,' within the 'Humanity Track,' to take part in Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 in Al Arish, Arab Republic of Egypt, as part of the UAE's ongoing support for the Palestinian people. The first group was inaugurated in the presence of Dr. Sultan Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, coinciding with World Humanitarian Day. The minister met the participating youth in the field, commending their high spirit and readiness to contribute to humanitarian efforts representing the UAE in one of the world's most crisis-affected regions. Speaking in Al Arish, Al Neyadi said, "The UAE believes humanitarian work must be instilled in younger generations, embodied by the leadership's vision of empowering youth to be ambassadors of giving and global peace. Through initiatives such as the Youth Social Missions Programme, we aim to prepare Emirati cadres capable of representing the nation's values and providing support to communities worldwide in a sustainable and humanitarian manner, reflecting the UAE's image and international standing." He added, 'Emirati youth in this mission are a shining example of a generation carrying a profound humanitarian responsibility, embodying the UAE's values of solidarity and giving. Their participation in Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 demonstrates their readiness to stand at the forefront in supporting the Palestinian people and delivering aid to those most in need, with a spirit of initiative, responsibility and true belonging to their homeland and its enduring humanitarian principles.' Director of Empowerment at the Federal Youth Authority, Rashid Ghanem Al Shamsi, said that launching the first group of the Youth Social Missions Programme reflects ongoing efforts to build an integrated framework for empowering youth in humanitarian, development and cultural fields. He noted that the initiative provides practical tools and real field experiences to enhance their capabilities and enable them to contribute effectively across various areas that bring positive impact and prosperity to communities worldwide. He added that the participation of Emirati youth in Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 represents a milestone in empowering them for international relief work. Their field tasks include preparing relief shipments, packaging and distributing food, medical and water supplies, supporting logistics teams, and following up on the UAE Lifeline pipeline that delivers water to around 600,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. This experience offers youth a genuine opportunity to understand the challenges of humanitarian work firsthand and contribute effectively to alleviating suffering in crisis areas. The first group's field missions also include distributing food and medical aid, providing psychosocial support, and contributing to direct relief efforts in coordination with official entities engaged in the humanitarian operation in Gaza. The initiative aims to develop the skills of Emirati youth, broaden their awareness of global issues and growing humanitarian needs, and open avenues for participation in international initiatives that support the Sustainable Development Goals and reinforce the UAE's role as a leader in humanitarian action. The Youth Social Missions Programme is one of the flagship national initiatives launched by the Federal Youth Authority under the 'Society and Values' pillar of the National Youth Agenda 2031. It aims to prepare Emirati youth to participate in humanitarian, development and cultural missions, thereby enhancing the UAE's global presence and training a new generation of ambassadors for humanitarian work.
The National
6 hours ago
- The National
Arabic speaking placed front and centre in UAE's government schools
Arabic tests starting from first grade are to be introduced in government schools to gauge pupils' abilities as part of a nationwide push to preserve the language and encourage its wider use. A broader goal is to instil Emirati and Arabic cultural values across all walks of life in the UAE, the Ministry of Education said ahead of the new 2025/2026 academic year. Based on the language testing, plans to enhance the curriculum will be made if and when needed. 'The focus this year is on refining students' abilities and skills, national identity and an increased emphasis on language,' Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, said at a conference at the Zayed Education Complex in Al Warqa on Tuesday. 'Abilities in Arabic will be measured from grade one and improvement plans will be implemented if needed.' The ministry also introduced new criteria for hiring teachers at government schools, which will measure how well they know Emirati culture and society. 'A new psychometric was added when hiring new teachers,' Ms Al Amiri added. "The goal is to see how well the teachers would fit into the cultural environment of the UAE." Second-term exams cancelled The ministry also announced the cancellation of second-term exams, shifting towards continuous evaluation that reflects performance throughout the year. Instead of centralised exams, each school will have the freedom to carry out its own bespoke tests to assess a pupil's performance. The decision is part of broader reforms designed to enhance critical thinking and analytical skills while moving away from traditional high-pressure testing. Learning Arabic Private schools will also instil greater emphasis on Arabic from the 2025/2026 academic term. In June, the ministry mandated that all private schools teach at least 40 minutes of Arabic lessons daily, totalling 200 minutes a week. By 2027-2028, that number will increase to 300 minutes. The ministry said Arabic will be taught by qualified early childhood teachers using approved educational resources and age-appropriate teaching methods, suitable for native and non-native speakers. Under the new policy, Islamic studies will be taught to all Muslim children in kindergarten years for 90 minutes each week, divided into two 45-minute lessons or three each lasting for 30 minutes. Private schools must also include social studies in kindergarten education, which will focus on concepts of family, UAE geography and environment, social values and wider social studies. These will be taught through simplified, play-based approaches throughout the daily school programme, inside and outside the classroom. Mandatory AI classes Ms Al Amiri also explained how new AI classes will be implemented and what it will focus on depending on the student's grade. Announced in May by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the subject is to be introduced across all stages of government education in the UAE. 'The subject will matter on teaching students how to use artificial intelligence in an ethical and responsible way," Ms Al Amiri said. "In the first and second cycle, there will be one class every two weeks focused on raising awareness towards the benefits and potential harms of AI, while on the third cycle it will be focused on using AI effectively." The subject will be taught by the same teachers that teach computer science; they were trained specifically to teach AI for this year. Additionally, there will be a specialised committee that makes sure the subject is being taught effectively. New schools, more teachers The opening of nine new schools, which will welcome more than 25,000 pupils, was also announced alongside 800 new teachers. More than 460 schools have been maintained and equipped, 5,500 buses allocated, more than 10 million textbooks printed and 47,000 laptops distributed, the ministry said. In addition, more than 23,000 educators participated in a specialised training week, totalling around 170 hours across 40 workshops for leaders and teachers, and 20 workshops for support positions. In the next academic year, the Educational Competency Assessment Project will target more than 12,000 cadres across kindergarten and Cycle 1 levels, and 11,000 cadres across cycles 2 and 3 to define clear career paths and empower staff in line with national education system requirements.
