Volunteers on US trip help needy family

Delegation from Takatof that was attending a conference rolled up their sleeves for Habitat for Humanity.

ABU DHABI // Young Emirati volunteers have helped renovate a house in Washington for a needy family. The delegation from Takatof, the emirate's leading social volunteer programme, which was visiting America for a conference in San Francisco, spent a day in the capital last week working with the charity Habitat for Humanity. Maytha al Habsi, the director of Takatof, said: "It was a hectic day, building, tinting and scraping - all hard construction work.

"We were introduced to their programme and volunteers and we shared our experience." Hemaid al Hammadi, who was part of the trip, said: "Volunteering is a universal language; it is not restricted by geography. They were well organised and we learnt from that." The team also collected surplus food from hotels for the homeless and a programme for helping the elderly. It was the first time representatives from Takatof had attended the National Conference for Volunteering and Social Services, which was addressed by Michele Obama, the US first lady.

"The visit was a symbol of growing social and cultural links," said Ms al Habsi. [e-mail]