Emirates Red Crescent, Aster Volunteers Put a Smile on 100 Underprivileged Children’s Faces

Press release

Published March 7th, 2018 - 11:50 GMT

The program echoes the sentiments put forth by the Year of Zayed, designed to commemorate the memory of the late Sheikh Zayed 100 years after his birth.

With the aim of bringing happiness on children’s faces, Aster Volunteers joined hands with the Emirates Red Crescent-Dubai and created a program called “Smile” to provide medical care and treatment to 100 underprivileged children.

The program echoes the sentiments put forth by the Year of Zayed, designed to commemorate the memory of the late Sheikh Zayed 100 years after his birth. A reflection of the UAE’s Founding Father’s vision to promote the health and wellbeing of children everywhere, “Smile” invited the children at the Red Crescent premises—some orphaned and others rescued from various hardships—from countries including Syria, Yemen, and Iraq.

The program saw participation of more than 24 medical and non-medical volunteers, as well as the support of the CSR impact partner “Lighthouse Cohort” which also encouraged the children’s involvement in fun games, arts and crafts, and educational activities.

The Smile program provided children with medical check-ups from General Practitioners and medical experts across specialties including ear, nose and throat (ENT); dental; and pediatrics supported by Aster and Medcare facilities in the UAE.

Background Information

Emirates Red Crescent

UAE Red Crescent Authority was established on 31/01/1983 and gained the international recognition as a member No.: 139 of the International Federation of Red Crescent and Red Cross on 08/27/1986. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan took the position of the Chairman of the Board of the Red Crescent in 1986, and then took the position of the Chairman of the Authority in 1993, which gave impetus to the efforts of the human Authority. In 1997, the role of the Authority had been enhanced by the acceptance of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, for the position of the honorary president of the UAE Red Crescent. In 2001, the UAE Red Crescent had been selected as the second best humanitarian Autjority at the level of the continent of Asia.