Nooh Al Hammadi is a business development manager for Etihad Rail. But during his time off he volunteers for groups such as the humanitarian organisation Red Crescent and Takatof, a social programme designed by the Emirates Foundation to create a culture of volunteering throughout the UAE. Here, Mr Hammadi talks about why he gives up his spare time to try and help others, and what he gets out of it.
What inspired you to get involved in volunteering?
I guess I got it from my father. I didn't really think about it until I was volunteering in Takatof. They asked me how I got involved in Takatof and volunteering because [they said] Emiratis nowadays - the new generation - are not that much into volunteering. And then I kept getting flashbacks. I remembered that when I was a kid, because I am from Al Sila, which is the far, far west of Abu Dhabi ... my father went up there to help and assist the pilgrims [on their way to Mecca] giving them water. That's the first thing I remembered. Then I remembered that he volunteered for Red Crescent ... and the parents' council in school.
Injaz-UAE is a partnership between the business community, educators and volunteers, which aims to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators. What attracted you to volunteer there?
I was taking a [diploma] programme called Lead, about leadership and management. We had a visitor from Injaz-UAE. She gave us a presentation about what it does. I found it very interesting, especially since I am a member of Toastmasters Club, which is about public speaking and leadership. I joined four years ago. I thought if I joined Injaz-UAE I would utilise what I learned in Toastmasters. I love volunteering.
What do you get out of it?
The Government has given us a lot. So this is the first thing. I feel ... at least I have done something towards this country and the people here. It's true that a project like Etihad Rail is really amazing and ambitious and it's really something that you are doing for the country and the region. But I get a salary for that. So with volunteering you feel that you are really giving something purely voluntarily, no one is forcing you. You are just investing your time, but still you benefit from it. You are learning at the same time. That's a feeling that you cannot get paid for.
What do you do for Injaz-UAE?
Injaz-UAE also, similarly to Toastmasters, has manuals. They gave me the leadership and entrepreneur manual. I [went] through that manual and prepared for each lecture. There were around eight lectures which were once a week.
You have not been as active specifically with Injaz-UAE as of late because of your educational pursuits. How are you going to manage your commitments?
Last year ... I started my masters in public and policy administration, which I am still doing. I found it very difficult to manage a full-time job, with full-time studying and full-time family life. I thought I would take a break but not leave Injaz-UAE. I am planning to go back next year.
