Have you returned from holiday with unwanted currency, or got old foreign coins and notes languishing in the back of a drawer or dressing table indefinitely.  At least I have seen my parents and relatives returning from foreign tour with loose foreign currency change which is just lying around(seemingly good for nothing). I am sure many of you /your parents may be stockpiling such change at home.

There are many other travelers who don't bring any currency home, rather they try to use it all on their last day, or spend it in airport shops, buying items they don't really need, or want, in a last-minute bid to get rid of the cash. Worst are those who throw away the left over change on returning, rather than be lumbered with loose change.

Loose change in foreign currencies is not readily accepted by money exchange houses, banks, charities and shops in the UAE, effectively rendering them useless. You can?t exchange it or use it to buy things here, but it is money in the end. People don?t think about the value of these coins.

Dubai Municipality identified this issue , spent four to six months researching and planning how to put the change to good use and finally decided to  launch yet another amazing initiative to recyle such  change which can be put to good use if collected from all.

Coins of foreign currencies will be collected for charity . Dubai Municipality plans by month end to roll out dedicated charity boxes to receive the coins.The boxes will be clearly identified by a logo and instruction that they are solely dedicated for foreign currency coins. They will be placed in malls and other places.

Dubai Municipality will single-handedly undertake all aspects of the initiative.. They are waiting for brochures and marketing campaigns to be finalised for this. When they launch, this will become a big thing.

Letter have been sent to their own staff ,  government organisations , charities in the UAE to receive their coins. Dubai Municipality (DM) has already got 50-60kgs coins , some are on the way. It?s a good start.

DM has  listed coins from more than 90 countries, mostly euros, Gulf and Indian currencies.There are even some special edition coins, those out of circulation, and some coins from the ?80s in the UAE.

The change thus collected through charity boxes (meant for foreign currency change only) will be handed over to the Emirates Airline Foundation, a non-profit children?s welfare organisation to help vulnerable and disadvantaged children .

Source : Gulf News