Sandooq Al Watan launches the “National Identity Pioneers” initiative

Yasser Al-Gergawi, Director General of the National Fund, confirmed that Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Chairman of the Fund’s Board of Directors, directed that the Fund focus during the year 2025 on strengthening the concept of national identity for everyone, through all its activities and programs, in accordance with the slogan “National Identity.” Strong, sustainable, empowerment, productivity, responsibility.”

He pointed out that the Fund formed a higher committee to develop all its programs and activities, and to add many new initiatives that meet this trend, and they were recently approved by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak and members of the Board of Directors, pointing out that the new plan includes 19 main initiatives targeting about 14 categories of society. Work on it began at the beginning of this January, including the “National Identity Pioneers” initiative, which will be launched during the second week of this month.

He stressed that all initiatives aim to deepen pride in national identity as it is the focus and basis of the mission, goals and work of Sandooq Al Watan.

Al-Gergawi added that all of the Fund’s programs will operate on two main levels: everything related to programs for pride in the characteristics and principles of national identity in the Emirates, and programs for developing the capacity for productive work, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Regarding the most important societal groups targeted by the Fund, he pointed out that the Al Watan Fund works with everyone to strengthen national identity in the country, and this includes all sectors of society, most notably schools, colleges and universities, the family “including women and children”, youth, people of determination, senior citizens, and individuals. The elite, artists, cultural and intellectual leaders, in addition to research and study centers, media institutions, ministries and government agencies, as well as civil work institutions, clergy, the business sector, and foreign communities.

Al-Gergawi explained that the Fund will work in the areas of strengthening national identity in cooperation with all parties in society, and this is done through a creative model of community partnership, consisting of three elements, including the National Identity Pioneers Program, which is organized for members of the target entity and its workers, with the aim of education, awareness and empowerment. The second, which focuses on relying on the shared resources of the Fund and the entities it works with in implementing activities and initiatives to support national identity, while the third element is providing the opportunity to any wishing member of the entities the Fund works with to participate in an intensive public service project. This is under the supervision and follow-up of the Fund.

Regarding the most important initiatives that focus on pride in national identity, Al Gergawi explained that they include a large group of programs that all revolve around celebrating and taking pride in the characteristics and principles of national identity that the whole world knows about the sons and daughters of the Emirates.

He added that the “National Identity Pioneers Initiative”, which will be launched in the second week of this January and will tour all the emirates, institutions and universities of the country, will represent the first step towards strengthening national identity among all segments of Emirati society, noting that it is a flexible program aimed at training participants from all categories on… Pride in the authentic values ​​and principles of Emirati society.

Al-Gergawi pointed out that Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak directed that this program be implemented during the year 2025 with more than 14 Emirati entities, institutions and bodies, and opened the door for everyone to participate in it, pointing out that Sandooq Al Watan has finished preparing the cognitive content of the program and training the trainers who will implement it with Various categories.
He explained that the program will be organized throughout the year in schools, colleges and universities, and then begin implementing it in other parts of society, indicating that the program will be developed continuously to suit the needs of different parties and groups.

He stated that the “National Identity Pioneers” program will be developed according to three main models, with the first model taking one week, the second two weeks, and the third three weeks. This will be implemented with complete flexibility that allows the second and third models to be implemented either during one continuous period or at separate intervals, depending on the nature and circumstances. Every party participating.

Al-Gergawi said that the role of Sandooq Al Watan in this program is to prepare educational and awareness materials related to the program, provide teaching personnel, and prepare systems for evaluation, follow-up, and development for the better, in addition to organizing an annual meeting for all pioneer graduates of this program, with the aim of achieving communication, acquaintance, and joint work between them. This confirms the continuity of their positive impact on society.

He explained that the National Identity Pioneers Program will represent a locomotive for all other initiatives in the Fund, so that it will be the common factor in various other activities, as it is the part that represents awareness of the main concepts of identity, its elements, goals, and characteristics for the individual, family, and society.

He pointed out that the Fund has a variety of initiatives, including the Arabic language program: the language of the Holy Qur’an, the awareness program of the role of the environment and nature in shaping national identity, national identity clubs, the program for producing intellectual and artistic works about national identity, and the program for activating the role of the media in taking pride in national identity. , national identity caravans, a research program in the fields of national identity, and others.