Time to give

Time to give

New ‘one dirham’ campaign launched by the government aims to mobilize public donations for social causes.

August 20, 2008 1:51 by kippreport

The UAE Ministry of Social Affairs has just launched a campaign called ‘Dirham Wa Bas,’ meaning ‘one dirham only’. The campaign invites financial contributions from the public to support the Ministry’s Social Responsibility Fund.
Donation boxes will be placed across the UAE, including at all Emarat petrol stations, major shopping malls and retail stores. “All financial contributions, starting from as little as one dirham, are needed and appreciated,” announced the UAE Minister of Social Affairs.

As Ramadan charity drives near, funds like these, asking people to contribute will soon start cropping up. In September last year, the government started the Dubai Cares campaign, an initiative that has raised $1bn to help educate 1 million children in poor countries.

But while Dubai Cares has a particular objective, the ‘Social Responsibility Fund’, which was started this year, doesn’t have a specific target. Its aim is to “finance the social care and the social development projects and assists in preparing professional cadres through training courses and rehabilitative programs.”

So, will you dropping a dirham today?