SAVW continues to accept applications until December 31st

The initiative reflects the award's commitment to showcasing the efforts of organised volunteer teams and empowering them to present their experiences and impactful initiatives that contribute to serving the community and addressing humanitarian and developmental needs in various fields.

Volunteer teams are defined as teams registered, accredited, and licensed by the relevant federal or local government entities. Each team must consist of at least five members, all over the age of 18, and comprised of individuals united by a shared volunteer goal that serves the public good. Teams wishing to participate are required to submit a set of approved documents, including: a recent, high-quality image of the team's logo; a list of team members; a copy of the team's formation decree issued by the licensing authority, clearly outlining the team's tasks and responsibilities; a copy of the award coordinator's nomination, certified by the team leader or the licensing authority; and a copy of the team leader's personal ID and passport.

A range of awards

SAVW offers volunteer teams the opportunity to compete for several awards that reflect their excellence and impact in the field of volunteering. These include: the Best Volunteer Opportunity Creator Award; the Best Volunteer Initiative Award; the Record for Volunteer Hours Award; the Best Volunteer Team Award; and the Excellence in Specialized Volunteering Award. The evaluation process is based on precise criteria that ensure fairness and transparency.

These awards aim to encourage volunteer teams to develop innovative and sustainable initiatives and foster healthy competition, thereby contributing to the advancement of institutional and specialised volunteer work.

Highlighting the role of volunteer teams

In this context, Suad Al Shamsi, Executive Director of SAVW, emphasised that volunteer teams represent a fundamental pillar of the volunteer work system, given their flexibility and ability to reach diverse segments of society. She noted that the award is committed to supporting and motivating these teams to continue their contributions.

Al Shamsi added that the award encourages all eligible volunteer teams to participate and present their experiences and outstanding initiatives. She affirmed that the established evaluation criteria contribute to highlighting leading models that achieve a tangible societal impact and promote the values of volunteering and social responsibility.

She explained that the award will continue to gradually highlight other eligible categories, ensuring that the efforts of all partners in the volunteer work journey are recognised and that a culture of excellence and positive competition in serving the community is established.