Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has organised the DEWA CSR Creativity Lab for its staff and its partners from the public and private sectors. The creativity lab is part of DEWA’s efforts to support the Year of Giving initiative, which was launched by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and carry out the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to implement initiatives for the benefit of UAE society in the future, and work to establish a permanent change in the way the next generation serve the UAE positively. Over 50 people participated in the creativity lab, which reviewed DEWA’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy and its initiatives for 2017. This was done through brainstorming sessions on Social Sustainability, Technology and CSR initiatives, and International CSR Initiatives. It also discussed community-focused ideas and topics.
Khawla Al Mehairi, Vice President of Marketing & Corporate Communications at DEWA, delivered the opening speech on behalf of HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA. She reviewed main pillars of social work to support the themes of the Year of Giving. This supports DEWA’s efforts to achieve the Dubai Plan 2021, and the DEWA Strategy 2021, by linking its CSR initiatives to three themes. These are promoting collaboration with the private sector in social work, enhancing volunteering work among DEWA staff, and spreading the values of giving through sustainable social initiatives at a national level.
Al Tayer noted that in 2015, the UAE disbursed a total of AED 32.34 billion as foreign aid for 155 countries. The UAE also gave AED 16.12 billion or 1.09% of the country’s GNI as net Official Development Assistance (ODA), according to the UAE Foreign Aid Report 2015, issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
“I am pleased to welcome you to the DEWA CSR Creativity Lab to develop a comprehensive framework to support the Year of Giving initiative, which was launched by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. The initiative reflects the rooted culture of good deeds in the hearts of Emiratis, and emphasises that the UAE leadership still adopts the approach of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who laid the foundations for humanitarian work in the UAE. The values of giving are key foundations for the UAE, which extends its helping hand to the needy across the world,” said Al Tayer.
"’His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum once observed that, ‘The fastest way to happiness is by instilling happiness in the hearts of others.’ At DEWA, we work according to a clear strategy and a number of leading humanitarian and charitable initiatives to serve society and promote cohesion among its members, to make people happier. DEWA not only provides electricity and water services according to the highest levels of quality, efficiency, and reliability, but also contributes to supporting the economic, environmental, and social development of Dubai and the UAE as a whole. DEWA’s CSR initiatives have always been an integral part of its strategy to serve the public good. For over five decades, DEWA has launched several prominent social development, initiatives that have contributed to the leading position DEWA enjoys today,” added Al Tayer.
“As part of our corporate social responsibility, and ongoing efforts to promote social development, we are committed to cooperating with all government and private organisations in Dubai and the UAE, to promote social responsibility, and encourage volunteer work among DEWA staff and society as a whole. We also work to instil the value of serving the nation in the hearts of new generations to reflect their love for the UAE, which is a value that already fills the hearts of the UAE’s citizens and residents. The ultimate objective that we all strive to achieve is the happiness of individuals and society, to ensure a brighter future for generations to come,” concluded Al Tayer.
“In 2015, DEWA organised 66 social initiatives, which logged over 14,000 voluntary hours by employees. This reflects DEWA’s commitment to achieve the UAE Vision 2021, to build a coherent and vibrant Emirati society, and the Dubai Plan 2021, to build an inclusive and cohesive society, that embraces common civic values. CSR is one of the most important pillars for DEWA to achieve its vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility,” said Al Mehairi.
Through creativity labs, DEWA aims to coordinate CSR efforts and learn about the actual needs of stakeholders. These include customers, employees, partners, society, and government organisations.
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