Emirates NBD, a leading bank in the region and a pioneer in private sector volunteering in the UAE has intensified its Exchanger programme to support the UAE community this Ramadan. To mark the Holy month within the Year of Zayed, the bank will organise over 200 volunteering activities, committing to 10,000 volunteer hours to be exchanged during the blessed season.

Emirates NBD’s Exchanger programme which has grown 386% since its inception in 2015 enables UAE and Egypt-based Emirates NBD staff to contribute time towards a variety of different causes including empowering people of determination, promoting financial literacy, women’s empowerment, health and wellness, environment, and community development.

As part of the bank’s efforts to further community volunteering, Exchangers activities are also open to friends and family of staff including children under the Exchanger Junior programme, and Emirates NBD’s business partners, namely suppliers and vendors. This Ramadan, the bank has also invited Liv. customers to participate in its volunteering activities.

During the Holy month of Ramadan, Exchanger volunteers will support the UAE community with a range of activities, including:

Shopping trips with disadvantaged children, including those with disabilities, to purchase clothes for Eid
Islamic calligraphy art classes for children with disabilities at the jamjar
Canvas painting activity for those suffering from Parkinson’s
A fun-filled day for disadvantaged children at an indoor gaming centre, followed by iftaar
Distribution of iftaar boxes to motorists at traffic lights around the city
Distribution of iftaar to visitors of the Emirates Red Crescentand Beit Al Khair tents
Reading sessions and suhoor with the elderly
Mobile cinema shows for blue collared workers
Packing of toiletry and food items for distribution to blue collared workers
Iftaar at a five star hotel for blue collared workers

Emirates NBD’s Exchangers is an integral part of the bank’s CSR commitment and supports the UAE government’s goal to increase community volunteering in the Year of Zayed following the Year of Giving. The bank is a collaborating member of IMPACT 2030 under the United Nations, a private sector-led organisation that aims to tackle the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through corporate volunteering.  Volunteering is also a key focus of the bank’s recent premier partnership with Expo 2020 Dubai. Performance numbers and impact of the Exchanger programme are audited by a third party assessor, Sustainable Square, a global CSR and sustainability agency.