The Emirates Foundation is providing grant support to projects in disability field in the United Arab Emirates.
The 2011 “Disabilities – Promoting Inclusion Programme” is aimed at UAE organisations striving to develop and strengthen the inclusion into society of individuals living with disabilities in the UAE.
Invitations to apply for funding are going to licensed organisations, schools, academic institutions, health centres and professionals working on projects that aim to increase the opportunities available for people with disabilities.
The Foundation intends that the awards will promote awareness – encouraging independent living, improving services, decreasing discrimination and increasing access to education and employment for people with disabilities nationwide.
Funding can be used to build human capacity and knowledge through training, improve existing services, develop new services, conduct research and strengthen institutions working in this field.
The grant programme was launched at the Higher College of Technology Conference in Al Ain, entitled “Embracing Inclusion,” on January 19, 2011.
Sabha Al Shamsi, Senior Executive Advisor to the Education Programme at the Emirates Foundation, said: “People with disabilities have faced many challenges and have been excluded from all sectors of society including mainstream schooling, university and employment.
“This project will raise the visibility of people with disabilities and promote inclusion within the whole of society. We believe that organisations either partnering or collaborating with different civil society organisations, government departments and the private sector are paramount to the success of disability inclusion in society.”
To qualify for an award, organisations must be licensed in the UAE, working on inclusion and be able to supplement the Foundation’s grant with a minimum of 50 per cent funding from internal or other sources of financial support.
Preference will be given to civil society organisations, government entities and private sector organisations working together on an inclusion project and those who do not have existing grants with the Emirates Foundation.
The funding is not intended to support the purchase of land, buildings, vehicles, or the funding of endowments or galas.
The Foundation will only accept applications that have been completed and submitted by the closing date of February 28, 2011. For more information, visit this link.
