Leading telecom operator in the UAE, du, has announced the launch of the HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Social Responsibility Award as an award category of its Social Media Awards competition.

The announcement was made while revealing further details of the awards, which have been launched in conjunction with the 41st UAE National Day celebrations, as a reflection of the spirit of the nation.

Social media practitioners can nominate their initiatives for the awards starting today until November 20, a statement from du said.

 “We thank HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al- Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, for his support. Naming the award category after him is a simple gesture as the UAE is blessed with his able leadership, and by his pioneering adoption of social media as a tool for launching several well-known corporate social responsibility initiatives for the welfare of the UAE society,” said Ahmad Bin Byat, chairman, du.

“In the run-up to the 41st UAE National Day celebrations, all our activities will reflect the goal of our initiatives - which is to strengthen social bonding. We invite everyone to join in and contribute to recognising those people who have contributed to the common good of community through their campaigns,” he said.

The awards aim to achieve multiple objectives, such as engaging with the youth and encouraging them to contribute positively to the UAE community through social media, driving patriotic behaviour among the country’s youth, instilling a sense of belonging to the UAE and pride in its leaders, the statement said.

Additionally, it also aims at showcasing positive practices by active community members on social media, while rewarding and celebrating role models who have contributed to driving positive change within the UAE.

A specialised judging panel will evaluate the entries based on innovation, social media reach and engagement, community impact, awareness and public engagement, and type of social cause.

The evaluation will be conducted in complete transparency and neutrality by an independent panel of experts in accordance with criteria reviewed by consultants in this field. – TradeArabia News Service