Vice President says it’s time to give back to those who give their all
Last year’s winners included Syria’s courageous White Helmets and an Iraqi who opened his home to street children.
This year more philanthropists will be celebrated after the second round of Arab Hope Makers was launched yesterday by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
The initiative seeks to honour and promote people in the Arab world who spread hope and who encompass the values of giving, positivity and optimism by dedicating their lives to helping those around them.
It celebrates people fighting social, economic, health and psychological problems with humanitarian initiatives, empowering marginalised groups in society, alleviating the suffering of the poor and sick, and investing in the neglected sections of their communities.
“There are thousands of people who work silently and tirelessly to help others,” Sheikh Mohammed said. “These are the true heroes who deserve to be honoured.”
The initiative encourages people from around the Arab world to submit their stories of hope on the website arabhopemakers.com.
Submissions are welcome from any person, team or entity with an initiative, service or volunteer programme in education, health, environmentalism, awareness or community development.
“We will take these people’s extraordinary stories and continue to fight despair and pessimism with their spirit of positive change,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
“In the face of frustration, future generations need to hear their inspiring experiences.
“I invite everyone in the Arab world to join us on our journey of spreading hope. Everyone has something to contribute.”
The stories, documented in photos and videos, will be published on the initiative’s social network sites so they can be widely shared and inspire others.
Candidates will pass several qualifying rounds before making it to the final ceremony, to be held in Dubai.
The initiative, which is under the auspices of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, offers a Dh1 million award to the greatest Arab Hope Maker who works selflessly without seeking fame or reward.
The award allows the winner to continue their efforts to spread hope and help those in need.
“We will work with the Hope Makers, support their humanitarian efforts, help them in their missions and share their stories proudly as achievements for our Arab society,” Sheikh Mohammed said. “This initiative is like a school that annually graduates thousands of positive change-makers in our communities.”
When Arab Hope Makers was launched in February last year, more than 65,000 submissions were received.
Five finalists were selected to attend a ceremony in Dubai, including Nawal Al Sufi, who is from Morocco but lives in Italy and has helped to rescue more than 200,000 refugees.
The others were: Ma’ali Al Assoussi, from Kuwait, who for more than 10 years has been helping Yemenis; the White Helmets of the Syrian Civil Defence Organisation; Hashim Zahabi, who opened his home to street children in Iraq; and Magda Gibran, better known as Mama Maggie, from Egypt, who dedicated her life to serving the poor.
Ms Al Sufi was voted as the Arab Hope Maker, but Sheikh Mohammed surprised the crowd by awarding all five candidates the grand prize of Dh1 million each, helping to support all their endeavours.