As the UAE celebrates 2026 as the Year of Family, households have an opportunity to play a greater role in shaping more sustainable communities. From reducing food waste and conserving water to supporting neighbours and making more responsible purchasing decisions, small changes at home can contribute to wider environmental and social progress.
Building on this approach, SmartLife Foundation is expanding its Smart Sustainable Family Project, which aims to engage more than 500 families across the UAE, including blue-collar workers and their families. The initiative brings sustainability into everyday family life, encouraging participants to work together, adopt practical habits and understand how their individual contributions cAonnect to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The program comes at a time when greater participation in sustainability efforts is needed. According to the United Nations’ 2025 Sustainable Development Goals Report, only 35% of targets with available trend data are on track or showing moderate progress. While national policies and institutional commitments remain essential, involving families and communities can help make sustainability part of everyday life, rather than something discussed only at a policy level.
The project’s next workshop will take place on 24th of October 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon at India Club, Dubai, bringing families together for a two-hour interactive session. Participants will explore the UN’s 17 SDGs, identify goals relevant to their households and develop a one-month action plan using a dedicated Family Impact Canvas.
What makes the initiative different is its focus on what happens after the workshop. Over the following month, families will put their plans into practice and document their progress, whether through reducing household waste, conserving electricity, supporting community wellbeing or adopting more responsible consumption habits. Participants will then submit their achievements for recognition, with an emphasis on the effort made and the impact of their actions.
Rex Prakash, Founder SmartLife Foundation, commented: “Sustainability shouldn’t be something families only hear about. It should be something they feel they can take part in, regardless of their background or circumstances. For many households, that might mean making better use of resources, reducing waste or simply finding ways to support the people around them. What matters is giving families the knowledge and confidence to start. Through this initiative, we want to show that everyone has a role to play and that the actions we take at home can make a difference beyond our own front doors.”
The project reflects SmartLife Foundation’s wider commitment to supporting blue-collar communities through education, skills development, health and wellbeing initiatives. By involving families in sustainability activities, the Foundation hopes to encourage greater participation across different sections of society, while strengthening family bonds and creating opportunities for communities to learn from one another.
Families interested in joining the upcoming workshop can find further information and register through SmartLife Foundation’s official website at: https://www.smartlifefoundation.org/ssf
Event details
- Event: Smart Sustainable Family Project – Session 2
- Date: Saturday, 24 October 2026
- Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Venue: India Club, Dubai
- Registration: SmartLife Foundation – Smart Sustainable Family