Ma’an’s fifth cohort focuses on senior citizens and residents
The Authority of Social Contribution, Ma’an, has announced the start of its fifth cycle of the Ma’an Social Incubator (MSI) programme dedicated to supporting social businesses that directly benefit and enhance the lives of senior citizens and residents.
The programme has launched to coincide with World Senior Citizens Day, celebrated annually on 21 August in a bid to increase awareness of the factors and issues that affect older adults, such as health deterioration and social exclusion, among others.
Senior citizens and residents have been identified as a key demographic by the Department of Community Development (DCD), Abu Dhabi, and their crucial input throughout different stages of the programme will be vital in addressing some of the biggest challenges the senior generation currently face.
The MSI aims to address these challenges, providing an opportunity for seniors and social entrepreneurs to share their knowledge and come up with solutions that will help improve the existing services that are currently available to senior citizens and residents. Applications for the fifth cycle are now being accepted from participants working on developing existing services or products that will enhance their quality of life across the Emirate. for this social innovation programme.
The solutions selected for the programme will support seniors to play a more active role in society by taking part in different activities and building relationships with different members of the wider community. By ensuring their increased integration into society, seniors will have an improved chance of feeling valued and appreciated by the community they live in, and ultimately improving their mental and financial wellbeing.
Ten teams, whose initial solutions meet the selected criteria, will be shortlisted by Ma’an and will undergo a 90-day training programme to build these existing services into sustainable business ventures. Ma’an will support the ten successful teams with access to mentorship, office space, business expertise, funding and investors.
The Ma’an Social Incubator is one of Ma’an’s five key pillars and is part of its on-going efforts to grow Abu Dhabi’s third sector by supporting not-for-profits and social enterprises and contribute to the development of strong, active and connected communities.
His Excellency, Engineer Hamad Ali Al Dhaheri, Undersecretary of the Department of Community Development, said: “The Department of Community Development continues to work with Ma'an on its series of cohorts within the Ma’an Social Incubator framework. This latest cohort represents an opportunity to create social impact and support senior citizens and residents, by finding innovative social solutions that enhance their quality of life, as well as providing a decent life for all members of society”.
Her Excellency Salama Al Ameemi, Director General of Ma’an, added: “We are looking for talented, creative and enthusiastic social entrepreneurs from different walks of life to make a meaningful difference to seniors for years to come. We look forward to receiving as many applications as possible.”
