DUBAI // Young Emiratis are being urged to give something back to their communities. Ghanim bin Ghanim, the manager of the Ministry of Social Affairs' public utility association department, said young people should be encouraged to get involved with local non-government organisations (NGOs). "I think the main problem is that some young people now believe they are too busy with their own lives to become involved in social work," he said. "They may think, 'What's the point of volunteering?'"
The ministry has tried to foster more volunteerism through projects such as Ana Mutatawa, or "I am a Volunteer". The programme has signed up more than 120 volunteers since it was launched in 2008, said Mr bin Ghanim. "It should not just be about business and work; people must help each other and provide support for the community," he said. Dr Mohammed al Mutawa, a member of the board of the Sociological Association, one of the country's oldest NGOs, said young people needed to be more "socially aware and conscious". "Nowadays, most of the young people are not interested in these activities and their style of life is different to the older generation," he said. "Here you feel that nobody from the new generation is interested. They are just going to the mall and here and there - that's it." This apparent attitude contrasts with the enthusiasm for public service that was seen in the 1980s, when the association was very active and the founders, then young people themselves, felt they were making a contribution, Dr al Mutawa said. "We were proud and we felt 'Where there's a will, there's a way'," he said. "I hope the role of civil society becomes more active again, but we'll keep ringing the bell." All local NGOs in the UAE must be registered with the Ministry of Social Affairs, which regulates the sector under guidelines in a federal law passed in 2008. There are 133 NGOs operating in the country, including the Arabic Language Protection Organisation and the Date Palm Friends Society. According to Mr bin Ghanim, some of the most active groups are the women's organisations and the cultural clubs connected to communities. While a concerted effort is being made to encourage more participation within the sector, concerns about the state of civil society have also been raised. In a UN report released earlier this year, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women noted what it described as an "absence of a robust civil society" in the UAE and called for the creation of an environment that fosters NGOs. "The 2008 law made things more strict," said Dr Mohammed al Roken, the president of the Jurists' Association. "Civil societies work to develop capabilities and encourage voluntary work to become part of the culture, and this needs fewer restrictions." For example, under current law, organisations that participate in events outside the country must first secure permission from the ministry. Four of the five requests made by the Jurists' Association since February have been turned down, according to Dr al Roken. However, according to Mr bin Ghanim, the ministry approves 98 per cent of requests for registered NGOs to take part in international events. "The main thing for me is time," he said. "We must have the request at least two weeks in advance, and this is a compulsory procedure. Other times, when we reject an application, it is for safety and to protect the people." zconstantine@thenational.ae