Minister of Happiness Ohood Al Roumi was the first to volunteer for a new programme that sees members of the public inspire many of the young patients going through treatment at Dubai's flagship children's hospital.
The minister donned the special volunteers' uniform and read to children on the first day of the Al Jalila Heroes project.
"I invite everyone to participate in this programme", Ms Al Roumi wrote on Twitter.
The minister chose to read to group of children from a book titled Two Great Leaders by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. It narrates the lives of Sheikh Zayed, the country's founding father, and the late former prime minister Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
سعيدة بالمشاركة في إطلاق البرنامج التطوعي لمستشفى الجليلة للأطفال، التطوع عطاء خلاق يعزز السعادة والإيجابية في المجتمع 💕@JalilaChildrens pic.twitter.com/o16b9obVuN
— عهود الرومي (@OhoodAlRoumi) August 19, 2017
"The individuals who sign up are not just given tasks but an opportunity to positively and considerably impact the lives of children. The efforts of every volunteer go into making the UAE a happier place and are a celebration of the Year of Giving," said Dr Mohamed Al Awadhi, chief operating officer of Al Jalila Children’s hospital.
“As the first paediatric hospital in the UAE, Al Jalila Children’s has successfully integrated technology and medical expertise to serve as a world-class facility. We also believe that initiatives that involve people and the community will be a differentiating factor and will contribute significantly in positioning Al Jalila Children’s as one among the top children’s hospitals globally,”
Volunteers who register and are accepted will go through introductory orientations.
In the first phase, the volunteers will greet patients and their families at the hospital and assist in general enquiries.
The areas of work will expand as the programme progresses, the hospital said. Residents who would like to be part of Abtaal Al Jalila can register online at http://www.aljalilachildrens.ae/volunteer/
