Self Reflection

My Self Reflection

I volunteered with TAKATOF, one of the biggest organizations in UAE for volunteering; with TAKATOF I did two events completing the sixteen hour limit for our course.

The first event we’ve done was the city guard application, where we delivered brochures for the visitors and explain to them how to get the application and using it, in this event I learned a lot of things like I didn’t know about this application before doing the event, I have learned that this application will help our community a lot, where it will make us solve incidents a lot more faster by using it.

The second event was the Malaria exhibition, where our job is to inform the visitors about the malaria disease, giving them a tour around the exhibition, where they can see the photos that were taken by the worldwide photographer Adam Nadel.

But it wasn’t all perfect we faced a lot of problems in our way, like the supervisors of TAKATOF being late in the first day of our volunteer, not knowing the right information when we help the visitors, but making a mistake made me learn from them, or what is the point of learning if we can’t experience faults or walls that hinder us from success.

In these two events I learned a lot of things, like the city guard application where the government of Abu Dhabi is making the people pitch in and help them by reporting incidents, and in the second event where we try to aware people about the Malaria disease, it made me think that I’m doing something small yet good for my country and people for that matter, the feeling of helping people was one of a kind, that it made me change my view for life, where it taught me that there are people ready to help other people for nothing back except their smile and happiness.

Third Day (Last): Malaria: Blood, Sweat And Tears.

Second day: 18-5-2014
Event: Malaria: blood, sweat, and tears 
Location: Emirates Palace
Time: 03:00 p.m to 10:00 p.m
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In this day we did the Malaria exhibition event for a second time, which it was the last day for the event, in the first day there was some information that i didn't know about but by doing the event more it made me more experienced about the Malaria Exhibit. I leaned more about the disease and how its deadly it is, now i have known why we're doing this exhibit because we wanted to make the people realize that malaria isn't a just a disease and that a lot of people suffered from it which caused them to die in the end.

In the end, the visitors were less than the first day we've volunteered, the exhibition was closing, which made me feel sorrowful because it was a great experience that i won't forget in the future and it will make me know that there are people who care for these people who suffered their lives from such deadly disease.

Interview Task

- This interview was taken in the city guard event with another volunteer.

1. What is the event about?

The event is about an application that would make Abu Dhabi a better place, by making the people participate and report incidents that aren't an emergency.

2. How do we use this application?

To use this application you need to take a photo, video or an audio of the reported incident, and upload that which will be delivered to Abu Dhabi Government Contact Center.

3. How do we get this application?

This application is free for all smartphones you can download it from the store or the official website itself.

4. How will this application help the community of Abu Dhabi?

By aiming to make the public help the government, by reporting these incidents which will make our community a stronger one that supports the idea of being able to help its government and fixing these kind of issues by getting involved.

5. What is your vision for this application?

By hoping that everyone participate in this project which it will help our community to solve these issues more quickly and effectively which will resolve to a more beautiful city.

Second Day: Malaria: Blood, Sweat And Tears.

Second day: 17-5-2014
Event: Malaria: blood, sweat, and tears 
Location: Emirates Palace
Time: 03:00 p.m to 10:00 p.m
=============================================================================

In this day we continued our volunteering with Takatof, in this event we have gone to Emirates palace, to meet with our supervisors, to know what the event is about and what we had to do. So they explained that we had to show and tell the visitors about the Malaria disease by talking to them and explaining what this disease is and aware them about this disease by sharing some information, we also had to show them the photos that was taken by Adam Nadel a photographer that took pictures of this disease, showing them in his unique style.

Shikha Lubna Al Qasimi who presented the event, she also attended the opening of the exhibition, Princess Astrid of Belgium is one of the supporters of this event(Roll Back Malaria), which she also attended with Shika Lubna at the opening.

This event was more challenging for me than the city guard, because there are some questions that i felt i couldn't answer right, but it made me learn about the disease more and how dangerous it is.

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Some of the Photos that was taken by Adam Nadel

First Day: City Guard Event

First day: 24-04 -2014

Event : City guard

Time : 2:00 p.m to 6:00 p.m

Location : Abu Dhabi, Marina mall (TAKATOF).

  =============================================================================

This is a reflection to our first day at city guard event with Takatof, Takatof has a lot of volunteering opportunities and city guard application is one of them. in this event we distribute brochures to the visitors, explain to them the idea behind this application, showing them how to download it in their smart phones which is totally free.

The whole idea of using city guard application is to report incidents in Abu Dhabi which aren't an emergency, an incident that would make our country a better place.

So we handed a lot of brochures to the visitors that are interested, some were ignoring us and wasn't pretty much interested about this application, but there are some who stopped and asked us how to get the app and how to use it, it was a great experience because we felt we could help people by doing these kind of work.
  =============================================================================

Showing the visitors how to get the application

People visiting our corner

Showing the visitors how to use the application

Project Plan

Volunteer Project 

TAKATOF ORGANAIZATION

1.       Title of plan:

 

 City Guard

Malaria Exhibition

 Providing Help and assistance within the events, organizing and

 

Aware people to the situation.

 

2. Names of group participants

 

Mohamed Matar Alnaqbi

Salem Ahmed Alaydaroos

Khalid Alhammadi

Adnan Quwaider Baflah

 

3. Contact person

· Husain Al Hadi

 

4. Purpose

The purpose of these events is to provide Help and awareness to the visitors throughout the event. Moreover ensuring their safety and wellbeing. On the other hand the entire exhibition is made to aware people and corporates about the new technologies that provide a better solution to encourage residents, to report non-emergency incidents through their smart phons. Moreover one of the main purposes of the second event is to combat malaria – an ancient enemy and a modern scourge much has been achieved, but much has been remains to be done, together with our friends in the roll back malaria partnership we look forward to the day when this debilitating and destructive disease is eliminated from our planet.

 

5. Time schedule

 

·         23/04/2014 introduction meeting

·         24/04/2014  city guard event 2:00 PM to 6 PM

·         17/05/2014 to 18/05/2014 The Event (Malaria Exhibition)

·         Event Timing is from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM

 

6. To be successful what needs to be done

Some of the thing that are needed to be done within the event period are following the trainer exact instructions without making an extra move unless asking for referrals by the instructor. Giving  people some information about what they are looking for throughout the event. And provide assistance in organizing the events and sharing with them the information.

7. What are the benefits to participants?

The benefits of these events are going to be lifelong skills. Such as safety skills to ensure the audience and the participants be more awarded and affective in their society. Moreover to learn about the government's efforts to combat the deadly disease Malaria.

 

8. Who are the target audience?

Visitors to the event from different backgrounds such as safety inspectors, All people how live in UAE trying to have a safer lifestyle, employees that are in charge of safety and students whom are curious about the modern safety technology and equipment's types and usage methods.

 

 

9. What problems might came across and how would we try to get around them?

Communication could be a problem or a barrier that face the volunteers, Since English is not their first language and they are still learning to prefect it. However we can overcome it by technology such as online translating. The volunteers must be patient as much as they can because there are few people who are ignoring them since they want to help them.​

Community Service – Learning / Exercise #7

LSH 2903 – Community Service – Learning / Exercise #7

Charity and Volunteering in the UAE - Information and Activities

The UAE is famous for its hospitality and the desire to give one's time and efforts to help other people.

Activities

Use the following link to access the website of the UAE Red Crescent.

Once you are there, see if you can answer the following questions. This will help you to find out what the organisation does, what some of their projects are and who are the people involved in the organisation.

http://rcuae.ae/

1.                   The UAE Red Crescent has contributed to a number of building projects both inside and outside the UAE. Name three projects the UAERC has worked on

a.        Building Masjeds .

b.        Building Shelters.

c.        Building Schools.

2.                   Name at least 4 countries the UAERC has worked in to provide various project assistance

a.        Sudan

b.        Pakistan

c.        Yemen

d.        Palestine 

3.                   What was the estimated total cost of projects undertaken in the UAE during 2009?

188 Million Dirhams

4.                   According to the information about the foreign based projects, which group of projects received funding of 8,373,558 Dirhams?

                  Projects like building houses, educating and health care.

5.                   According to the information about the Foreign Projects, the UAERC is involved in some very important work. According to the English translation, these are listed below. Try to come up with an easy explanation for each of the terms in the grid.

	Translation Term	My/Our own meaning
	reconstruction	rebuilding
	disasters	nature disasters
	crises	disaster caused by human
	rehabilitation	recovery
	infrastructure	structure
	devastation	destruction
	public utilities	services public

6.                   Name three situations which are listed as �natural disasters�.

a.        Earthquakes

b.        Floods

c.        Storms

7.                   Crescent Volunteers University

What are the three areas of training/qualification that university students could work towards?

a.        First Aid

b.        Volunteer work methods

c.         The international humanitarian law

UNICEF + Takatof Activity: Exercise #6

UNICEF Activity 1: Exercise #6

Open the link http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/uae_44659.html

List and discus the latest news line events in the United Arab Emirates

1- Arab media Award on child Rights initiated to honor outstanding achievements.
(Child survival and development)
2-UNICEF and Dubai cores support quality education to break the cycle of poverty.(Education)
3- Police boost AIDS campaign in Dubai.
(Emergency aid and humanitarian actions)

UNICEF Activity 2:

How can you help UNICEF? Working in groups, fill in the table below.

Ideas of supporting UNICEF	Ways of achieving it	Date of completion
Basic education and gender equality.	Giving them books, teaching them and clothes.
Children protection.	Protecting them from disasters by building shelters for them to be safe in.
HIV/AIDS and Children	Sending doctors and medicine to treat the sick children.
Campaign Awareness	Sending a massage to the community to aware them.

1.     Takatof - Exercise #6

Click on the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMDUTjeymxk&feature=related

Activity 1

Using Google search for information about Takatof and answer the questions below

What is Takatof?

A program for social volunteering and helping people who suffered from natural disasters mostly.

  

Which year did start? And who started it?

They started at 2005,  by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.
What volunteer work have they done?

• Takatof for School Renovation
• Takatof Ramadan Project
• Volunteering in the Health Sector

How can you help?

We can help them by entering one of their volunteering programme and supporting the people that needs help by giving them what they need so they have a basic life start.

Volunteering in different spheres of society - Exercise #5

 Community Service Learning / Exercise #5

During the summer of 2012 the Olympic Games were held in London. David Moorcroft is a former athlete. At one point he held the world record for the 5,000 metres. David can be heard discussing the importance of volunteering the Olympic Games.

Zoe Hall is a lady who was one of the volunteers at the Games. She talks about the event and how important it was at the time as well as how much it has inspired her to continue working as a volunteer.

This link is about half way down the page. Then click on 'Hear more radio features' - page 2 Volunteering  - to hear the selection again..

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/

 

Listen again and see if you can work out the answers to these questions about the interview:

1.                  How old were the Games volunteers? All Ages.

2.                  During the Games, the volunteers had a special title. What was this special title?

             Games makers.

3.                  Complete this quote from David… “… for a moment in time volunteering had a profile and an image that they fully deserve but don’t always get.”

4.                  David mentions that some of the volunteers are semi-retired. What does this mean? 

            Working part time.

5.                  Zoe worked in Events Services. Where was this located?

            Vince, at the Olympic stadium.

6.                  How does she describe the experience of volunteering for the Olympics and Paralympics? Best experience of her life.

7.                  What benefits of volunteering, according to Zoe?

a.   Fun

b.   Satisfaction

c.    Meeting new people

d.    Improve confidence 

8.                  Why does David feel that volunteering in the community is so important?

Because its a good experience where everybody can help and support the

people that needs help at the community.

 This page is also from AGE UK.

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/volunteers-week/

What volunteer roles do the following people have?

	Name	Job
1	John McArthur	Admin and information volunteer
2	Samarah Hashmi	Survey analyst volunteer
3	Oliver Stannard	Copywriter volunteer
4	Stanley Parker	Market Drayton shop volunteer
5	Camilla Williamson	Volunteer Parliamentary Assistant

Look again at these people and their jobs. What can you say about volunteering from the information in your chart?

That they all have different nationalities and ages, yet they share the same interest at volunteering.