Giving back to society
As the UAE marks the Year of Giving (2017), the thought as to why not spread the noble concept of volunteering to different geographies, motivated me to travel to India and work with under-privileged children to inculcate moral education (“Mohammad launches ten more Year of Giving initiatives”, Gulf News, September 20). I went to Vadodara in the Indian state of Gujarat, for a week, where I worked with a couple of non-governmental organisations. The trip really made an impact on me, especially the knowledge as to how I could give something back to society. A little courage and initiative gave me a lot of confidence to understand that anyone and everyone can be part of volunteering, and we need to spread this message in society. Ongoing initiatives and campaigns by the UAE government to drive various public sector, private sector and individual programs to successfully ‘give’ are commendable. It’s important to remember that there is no formal education or any kind of experience required to be part of giving. As long as you are able to deliver to the community, to someone anywhere across the globe, or even to someone by your side, you are part of this excellent initiative. There are still some people who might not have understood or acted upon this idea, yet. If you have already done something, that’s great. But don’t stop. We still have three more months to give before 2017 ends. I urge to all those who couldn’t contribute so far, that it’s not just about giving a donation, it’s about making a difference.
From Mr Apoorv Pandey
UAE
Facing gender discrimination at work
The glass ceiling is still very much present, despite the increased efforts to ensure the work environment and the people in it are treated fairly, equally and respectfully (“UAE launches Gender Balance Guide for workplace”, Gulf News, September 19). Women are passed on for promotions because they may be unable to commit longer working hours if they are raising young children or are pregnant. However, it is not just women who face discrimination on the basis of their gender. Men do too. Cultural beliefs and societal expectations for certain fields and certain roles have fuelled gender discrimination in the workplace. For instance, women are believed to be better suited for certain roles even though there may be a more suitable male candidate with better qualifications and experience. We see men ‘under-represented’ in fields like nursing, and women ‘under-represented’ in fields involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The only way to prevent gender discrimination from occurring is to view candidates solely by their experience and qualifications. However, this is easier said than done, as gender discrimination is prominent in the workplace in countries globally. Regardless of whether companies aim to provide equal opportunities, there are some employees who would try to discriminate against a certain gender. We have a long way to go when it comes to changing perceptions about genders which in turn could help prevent gender discrimination, in any form and in any place.
From Ms Aroushi Malhotra
Dubai
Key measures being taken
I think the UAE is doing a lot to curb the gap between men and women. The government has made it a point to involve women in the public or private sectors. Women have proved themselves that they can work and manage the household as well. They are intelligent and professional and can handle themselves in a work environment. I salute the UAE’s constant effort to make women a key part of society.
From Ms Kareena Rai
UAE
A positive role model for change
I think roping in celebrities to help popularise certain issues is a good move (“Priyanka Chopra proud to meet Malala Yousafzai”, Gulf News, September 21). Celebrities, with their reach and influence, manage to give importance to causes that require international attention. Be it Priyanka Chopra’s recent visit to Jordan or Leonardo Dicaprio’s involvement in raising awareness for climate change, celebrities have managed to throw light on issues affecting the world. Hurricane Irma caused a lot of destruction to human life and property. If it had not been for celebrity donations, their volunteer work and their constant social media updates urging people to help, millions of dollars would not have been raised for the victims. I wish governments used the power and fan following certain celebrities have and get citizens to work more towards making a difference.
From Ms Katarina James
UAE
Where is humanity?
Another Indian journalist has been killed (“Second Indian journalist killed in one month”, Gulf News, September 21). What is happening in India? While earlier, we were simply fighting with words, we now seem to be thirsty for blood. Anyone who disagrees with you, whether you are pro-BJP or pro-Congress (or pro-any other party!) is quickly labelled as either a traitor or a hardliner. Why have we reduced our public discourse to such a pathetic level? But despite the fact that things seem to be getting from bad to worse, I still believe that India - at its core - is pluralistic. Our current violent opposition to diversity is just a baby compared to the thousands of years of pluralism that is deeply woven into our history. I still believe in the line we learnt back in school – unity in diversity, that India is a better, stronger country not despite all the differences but because of them. And I hope that sane, secular and moderate voices will get louder.
From Mr Amir Suhail
Sharjah
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