AUS Awareness Day hosts 30 governmental and private organizations

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and President of American University of Sharjah (AUS), AUS held its annual Awareness Day to raise the public's awareness regarding issues of health, social, environmental and safety concerns. The event opening was attended by Dr. Björn Kjerfve, Chancellor of AUS; along with other senior university officials.

Thirty governmental and private organizations participated in the event, which was organized by the Office of Student Affairs and attended by members of the AUS community, students from schools across the UAE, and the public.

"Awareness Day is an annual gathering of the various governmental and private organizations that we partner with all year through for our community service initiatives," said Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Dean of Students. "Through this special occasion, we aim to address and get our messages across to the community about health, social, environmental and safety issues," she added.

"Participating organizations brought in with them valuable information and eye-opening presentations and displays to effectively convey their messages and raise awareness of various matters affecting one's life and society as a whole. With a big youth population on campus, we hope that these awareness activities positively influence our students' young minds for them to live healthy, safely and responsibly," said Dr. Al Shehhi.

With booths and banners set up at the university's Student Center, the participating organizations educated attendees about issues ranging from health issues, such as the effects of smoking and driving safety, to volunteering opportunities for those interested in giving back to the community.

"The awareness campaign is a great way to introduce students to various issues we need to learn and understand better," said Thoraya Jaber, a tenth grade student from Al Hekma International School.

The participating organizations included: Sharjah Police - Traffic and Petroleum Department, Sharjah Police - Public Relation, Sharjah Police - University City Police, Sharjah Police - Drug Enforcement Administration, Sharjah Police - Community Police, Sharjah Civil Defense, Sharjah Medical District, Supreme Council for Family Affairs - Sharjah, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, Sharjah Project for Oral and Dental Health, Red Crescent - Sharjah, Big Heart, Al Thiqah Club for the Handicapped, Consumer Protection Department, AUS Road Safety Awareness, AUS Community Services - Peer Health Educators, Dubai Police - General Department of Criminal Investigation, Dubai Police - General Department of Anti-Narcotics, Road and Transport Authority - Dubai, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, Noor Dubai Foundation, Dubai Blood Donation Center, Emirates Strategic Planning Association, Emirates Volunteers Association, Emirates Foundation for Youth Development (SANID), Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Al Ihsan Charity Association, Silkor Laser Medical Center, American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, and Abbott Laboratories S.A.