UAE Election Committee receives 2549 volunteer applications

Tariq Hilal Lootah, Under-Secretary of Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs and Head of the Elections Management Committee, said the qualification and training programme for Electoral Centre teams has gained overwhelming interest from citizens, non-profit organisations and national institutions, adding that it is an important step, which highlights their contribution to the successful implementation of the 2015 electoral process and a reflection of their awareness of the Federal National Council Elections.

He was addressing second press conference on the electoral programme updates, which was held on Wednesday, 26 August 2015. The event was attended by Dr. Saeed Al Ghafli, Assistant Undersecretary in the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs and member of the National Election Committee, Dr. Hashim bin Sarhan Alzaabi - Executive Dean at Higher Colleges of Technology – Dubai, Staff Col Mohammed Al Mulla of the National and Reserve Service Authority, Ahlam Saeed Allamki - Head of Research and Development at the General Women's Union, Mariam Al Nuaimi - Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET), Ali Sultan Hadad - Advisor and Board Member of the We are Emirates Association, Sahar Ahmed Al Obaid - Director of the Emirates Volunteers Association and Deputy Head of the Arab Union for Voluntary Work, Advisor Alaa bin Marwan, Deputy Director General of Asa'ad Shaab Volunteer Team and Saif Al Dhaheri -Director of Safety and Prevention Department at the National Emergency Disasters Management Authority.

Tariq Lootah added that the response to the call of action to participate in implementing the electoral process has been positive with a notable number of citizens applying to volunteer their services. It is also reflected in the number of calls received by the National Election Committee's dedicated Call Centre. A number of enquiries were received from citizens seeking details on how they can participate and contribute to this key national activity, reaffirming genuine public support in achieving successful electoral outcomes in accordance with the highest standards of professionalism.

Tariq Lootah added that the qualification and training programme for the Electoral Centre team that has been launched in cooperation between the National Election Committee and Higher Colleges of Technology is the first-of-its-kind to offer specialised certificates to the participants. He said that the programme has attracted a large number of qualified participants who have expressed their readiness to assist in the electoral process reflecting the culture of political development in the society.

He said that the National Elections Committee registered 2,549 volunteer applications representing a wide spectrum of specialisations including from leading national and civil institutions known for their successful roles and efforts in supporting various national initiatives. He said that all the applications were reviewed by a specialised committee, and 1,400 male and female Emirati citizens were provided training based on the specific needs of the Electoral Centres.

He added: "The National Elections Committee aims to guarantee the effective training of volunteers while providing them with fully-rounded knowledge on the different aspects of the electoral process to enable them to contribute to the electoral process actively. We instil the proper skill sets to equip them to deal with technical matters and unexpected situations that may arise during the Election Day, which is planned for 3rd October."

The National Elections Committee will train the 1400 volunteers through 150 sessions conducted by 20 specialised trainers across eight centres in the UAE at Madinat Zayed, Al Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah, Al Ruwais and Abu Dhabi through morning and evening sessions from 23 August to 17 September.

Tareq Lootah extended his appreciation of the important role that Higher Colleges of Technology plays in enhancing the skillsets and knowledge of the volunteers who are participating in managing the electoral process, adding value to its implementation and overall performance.

He also thanked all national institutions that have helped in motivating citizens, including Emirates Identity Authority, National Service Authority, National Emergency Disasters Management Authority, Community Development Authority – Dubai, Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET), We are all Emirates Committee, Emirates Volunteers Association, General's Women's Union and the Asa'ad Shaab Volunteer Team.
Source: WAM