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Latest News

Stay updated with our latest stories, impact reports, and community news.

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Home Away Sports Festival brings joy and community to Dubai’s blue-collar workers
Khaleej Times

Home Away Sports Festival brings joy and community to Dubai’s blue-collar workers

February 19, 2025

Emirates NBD community initiatives with SmartLife Foundation, distributing 630,000 meals
Other

Emirates NBD community initiatives with SmartLife Foundation, distributing 630,000 meals

December 6, 2024

'I lived on a rooftop': Illegal UAE residents recall struggles before life-changing visa amnesty
Khaleej Times

'I lived on a rooftop': Illegal UAE residents recall struggles before life-changing visa amnesty

September 20, 2024

FedEx Corporation (MEA CSR)
FedEx Corporation (MEA CSR)

FedEx Corporation (MEA CSR)

September 9, 2024

Alec joins Emirates Red Crescent for key Ramadan campaign
TradeArabia

Alec joins Emirates Red Crescent for key Ramadan campaign

September 4, 2024

KPMG launches 'Blue Wave' to uplift blue-collar workers in UAE
Arabian Business

KPMG launches 'Blue Wave' to uplift blue-collar workers in UAE

May 16, 2024

Dubai: Nannies, cleaners earn up to Dh1,500 extra income by making dolls
Khaleej Times

Dubai: Nannies, cleaners earn up to Dh1,500 extra income by making dolls

May 10, 2024

ALEC Group partners with Emirates Red Crescent and SmartLife on Ramadan Drive campaign
Other

ALEC Group partners with Emirates Red Crescent and SmartLife on Ramadan Drive campaign

April 7, 2024

Century Financial's 30 days x 30 deeds Ramadan campaign makes the difference
Other

Century Financial's 30 days x 30 deeds Ramadan campaign makes the difference

March 23, 2024

UAE: Party games for 60-year-olds? Fun meetups help elderly beat loneliness
Khaleej Times

UAE: Party games for 60-year-olds? Fun meetups help elderly beat loneliness

March 10, 2024

Dubai: 6 blue-collar workers win Dh30,000 in popular talent show
Other

Dubai: 6 blue-collar workers win Dh30,000 in popular talent show

December 11, 2021

UAE: Over 2000 labour camp workers audition for talent show
Other

UAE: Over 2000 labour camp workers audition for talent show

August 17, 2021

Single mum, electrician win top spots at talent contest
Khaleej Times

Single mum, electrician win top spots at talent contest

November 5, 2019

Learning English changed this Pakistani worker’s life in Dubai
Other

Learning English changed this Pakistani worker’s life in Dubai

October 4, 2019

Making a difference for low-income workers (Expert Insights interview)
Other

Making a difference for low-income workers (Expert Insights interview)

August 20, 2019

Hunt begins for the most talented blue-collar worker in UAE (Smart Idol 2019 auditions)
Announcement

Hunt begins for the most talented blue-collar worker in UAE (Smart Idol 2019 auditions)

March 1, 2019

The joy of giving: Why they volunteer
Other

The joy of giving: Why they volunteer

August 11, 2018

Philips embraces the holy month of Ramadan with local collaborations to improve people’s lives
Other

Philips embraces the holy month of Ramadan with local collaborations to improve people’s lives

June 20, 2018

A month of giving: six UAE charity campaigns running during Ramadan
Other

A month of giving: six UAE charity campaigns running during Ramadan

May 31, 2018

Dubai's blue-collared workers showcase their talent at Smart Idol 2018
Other

Dubai's blue-collared workers showcase their talent at Smart Idol 2018

April 27, 2018

Smart IDOL 2018 auditions announced
Other

Smart IDOL 2018 auditions announced

January 1, 2018

Indian workers in UAE get children's education support
Other

Indian workers in UAE get children's education support

September 15, 2016

A smart initiative for blue collar workers
Other

A smart initiative for blue collar workers

September 15, 2016

SmartLife Selected as the First Major NGO Partner for Sage Foundation in the UAE/Middle East
Other

SmartLife Selected as the First Major NGO Partner for Sage Foundation in the UAE/Middle East

July 5, 2016

'Smart idol' means a lot for these blue collars
Other

'Smart idol' means a lot for these blue collars

May 1, 2016

Life has not been easy for last year’s Smart Idol
Other

Life has not been easy for last year’s Smart Idol

May 25, 2015

Meet the four female contestants in the SmartIDOL grand finale
Other

Meet the four female contestants in the SmartIDOL grand finale

May 20, 2015

Volunteer call & program overview
Other

Volunteer call & program overview

February 19, 2015

Wish upon a star: Abu Dhabi delivery man's rise to TV singing fame
Other

Wish upon a star: Abu Dhabi delivery man's rise to TV singing fame

September 11, 2014

Viral video shows how happy workers are in Dubai
Other

Viral video shows how happy workers are in Dubai

July 20, 2014

Dubai labourers' children receive school fund
Other

Dubai labourers' children receive school fund

July 1, 2014

Changing lives, one worker at a time
Other

Changing lives, one worker at a time

July 1, 2013

SmartCup to bring blue and white collared workers together
Other

SmartCup to bring blue and white collared workers together

April 19, 2013

When cricket connected blue and white collar workers in Dubai
Khaleej Times

When cricket connected blue and white collar workers in Dubai

November 26, 2012

Charity can begin with an Iftar contribution
Khaleej Times

Charity can begin with an Iftar contribution

July 23, 2012

GCC: Migrants – SmartLife 'Adopt-a-Laborer' profile
Migration News (UC Davis)

GCC: Migrants – SmartLife 'Adopt-a-Laborer' profile

April 16, 2012

Adopt a labourer in Dubai
Time Out Dubai

Adopt a labourer in Dubai

March 1, 2011

CNN coverage of Smart Cup 2010
YouTube (CNN coverage)

CNN coverage of Smart Cup 2010

June 1, 2010

Making a difference for low-income workers (Expert Insights interview)Other
Making a difference for low-income workers (Expert Insights interview)
Published byOther
Published onAugust 20, 2019

Interview with SmartLife leadership

Q@&A: We sit down with Manjula Ramakrishnan, the President of SmartLife Foundation, to learn more about the Dubai-based NGO and its humanitarian activities to help low-income workers and their families

Can you tell us more about the SmartLife Foundation?

Licensed by the Community Development Authority in Dubai, the SmartLife Foundation is an NGO that works closely with blue-collar workers living in labor camps to help them improve their potential and quality of their lives by offering them a diverse range of programs.

In our 10 years of operations in Dubai – and still counting – our core philosophy is to devise projects by not sitting in the comfort of our corporate meeting rooms, but by being in their midst – in their labor accommodations – to learn about their requirements and to devise relevant programs that will help them.
What issues did you identify as the most urgent for the blue-collar workers?

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