Rev. Dr. Andrea Zaki, head of the Evangelical Community in Egypt and head of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services, received today, Monday, Mr. Hassan Bouhaza, president of the Arab Union for Volunteers, and his accompanying delegation, to sign a cooperation protocol between the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services and the Arab Union for Volunteers, to promote the role of volunteering and volunteers in various development aspects and the indicators of sustainable development, humanitarian response, and the implementation of the initiatives aimed at spreading the culture of volunteerism in the Arab societies.

The head of CEOSS welcomed the president of the Arab Union for Volunteers, and his accompanying delegation, giving a presentation about the organization’s activities with its various units and its participation in presidential initiatives in various governorates.

In his speech, the head of CEOSS said: “Working on exchanging experiences with the countries we befriend is very important, and the cooperation and participation in the areas of development and volunteering contribute to raising the efficiency and building the capacities of volunteers and volunteer work to serve the community. The Gulf region is also one of the important areas for coexistence, and Egypt and Bahrain are countries that believe in tolerance and their people consider diversity.”

The delegation of the Arab Union for Volunteers praised the activities of the organization, and affirmed their appreciation of its role in serving the Egyptian society. For his part, Hassan Bouhazaa said: “We aim from the cooperation protocol with the Coptic Evangelical Organization to encourage and support the Arab youth to proceed with their projects and voluntary activities to serve communities in need, to develop the voluntary work and turn volunteering into a methodology of daily life, by supporting volunteer creativity throughout the Arab world.”

The meeting was attended by Mr. Anwar Bouhassan, secretary general of the Arab Union for Volunteers; Mr. Hussein Al-Saeed, financial secretary of the Arab Union for Volunteers; Mr. Aqil Ismail, coordinator of the Arab Union for Volunteers; Mr. Ahmed Ashour, advisor to the president of the Arab Union for Volunteers; and Ms. Amani Nawar, media coordinator of the Union in Egypt, and among the leaders of the Coptic Evangelical Organization were: Mr. Mumtaz Beshai, vice president of the Evangelical Organization; Ms. Samira Louka, the senior head of the dialogue sector in the Evangelical Organization; and Ms. Margaret Saroufim, head of the Local Development Sector, along with a number of leaders in the Organization.

It is noteworthy that the Arab Union for Volunteers is an international non-governmental organization registered in the Kingdom of Bahrain by a decree of the Council of Ministers. The Union is considered the first Arab framework for volunteering that brings together the bodies, organizations, associations and centers that work in volunteer work, social development, and everything that promotes values and positive aspects in the Arab world, with the aim of unifying the Arab efforts and directing them towards community service and creating opportunities for partnerships and cooperation for the benefit of the Arab societies.