ABU DHABI –

Abu Dhabi was unanimously selected by the International Association for Volunteering Effort (IAVE) as the host city for the 26th World Volunteer Conference in October 2020, the largest global gathering of volunteering experts and practitioners.

The announcement was made yesterday at the closing ceremony of IAVE’s 2018 global conference, which took place in Augsburg, Germany, in the presence of a UAE delegation led by Hessa Bint Essa Bu Humaid, Minister of Community Development, and representatives from the Emirates Foundation, Red Crescent and Dubai Cares.

Hosted for the first time in the Middle East, the 26th IAVE World Volunteer Conference 2020 will be coordinated by Emirates Foundation, the national organization set up by the Abu Dhabi Government to facilitate public-private funded initiatives for the empowerment of youth across the UAE.

The conference is expected to attract 1,000+ participants from more than 90 countries, representing all the stakeholders of the volunteer community, including government entities, the private sector, non-profit groups, and individual philanthropists.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chairman of the Emirates Foundation, said: “We are honored to be hosting the next IAVE World Volunteer Conference in 2020.”

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in Abu Dhabi, which attests to the leading role our nation is playing on the global stage in the area of volunteering. Corporate citizenship and social responsibility are fundamental pillars for building the strong communities that will unite our nation in responsibility. It starts with volunteering, which nurtures a common spirit of giving, one that honors the legacy of our founding father His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.”

Sheikh Abdullah further praised the instrumental role of volunteering organizations in the UAE and their contribution to shaping, guiding, and delivering innovative volunteering programs and success stories that increasingly put youth at the forefront of volunteering efforts, with far-reaching national impact. “Your ongoing efforts to empower our nation’s youth are vital to fueling the growth of volunteering and service in the UAE and achieving a sustainable culture of giving, delivering social progress for many generations to come.”

He praised the successful efforts contributed by IAVE in driving the global knowledge and thought leadership on volunteering, through original research and analysis and by providing access to knowledge through their international conferences.

Maytha Al Habsi, CEO of Emirates Foundation, said: “We thank the IAVE Board Members for their confidence in Abu Dhabi and our ability to further the mission and objectives of the global volunteering community. We look forward to contributing our voice, as together we share our experiences, challenges, innovations, and means for collaboration around volunteering efforts.”

The selection of Abu Dhabi, to be the first Arab city in the Middle East to host the 26th IAVE World Volunteer Conference 2020, came after a rigorous tender progress, including a bid proposal and site visits by IAVE Board Members. — SG