Sharjah: The Sharjah Award for Voluntary Work (SAVW) has launched the second edition of the "Sustainable Volunteering Competition", targeting institutions that work with children and schools throughout the UAE. The competition is open to government, private, and community-based organisations, allowing participants to present best practices, events, and projects aimed at fostering a culture of volunteerism among students.
According to Emirates News Agency, the competition aims to highlight innovative and sustainable volunteering practices that emphasise the significance of voluntary work as an essential part of national and social identity. It aligns with the country's sustainable development goals. Applications for the competition will be accepted until September 25th, with winners to be notified and rewarded in early 2026.
Suad Al Shamsi, Executive Director of SAVW, stated that the competition encourages activities aimed at promoting sustainable development within communities, particularly focusing on raising children who embrace a culture of volunteerism. She highlighted that the competition seeks to promote positive change by instilling volunteer values and practices in students' awareness and behaviour.
Al Shamsi explained that the judging panel will evaluate submissions based on three broad criteria: planning (20%), which focuses on vision and innovation in volunteering; implementation (40%), reflecting organisation, supervision, documentation, and adherence to community values; and results (40%), assessing social impact and beneficiary satisfaction. These criteria allow student groups to showcase their pioneering role in community service and sustainability by launching creative initiatives that can be scaled up in the future.