‘Infuse culture of volunteering’

Giving back to society should be embedded in us at an early age, says HH Sayyidah Basma al Said, founder of Not Alone Campaign and Whispers of Serenity Clinic and was the first Arab judge for The Diana Awards.

The Holy month of Ramadhan reminds everyone of this factor and comes as an opportunity every year.

In 2024, HH Sayyidah Basma was again part of the judging team and was seated at the table with Prince William of the UK and she was impressed on how he took time to speak to each young leader. The shared belief is that young people can change the world with the values of passion, collaboration, integrity, ambition and unity.

“The youth execute their idea and it is after their demonstration of their projects they are awarded. This year the Diana Award recognised 20 successful projects.

Some of them dealt with mental health, the elderly, for students and so on,” said HH Sayyidah Basma. The governments have to think that students have to do volunteer work, she said.

“In some schools in Oman, they have to volunteer before they complete graduation. I think it is important for the children to understand the importance of humanity and they should be encouraged to realise that they have a big role to play in this regard,” she noted.

“With Diana Award, there is follow up and mentor ship, so the projects continue to benefit the society. The ideas were vivid belonging to different sectors but all to do with humanity and not with business,” she pointed out.

“So when we ask what youth can do? The government also has to infuse the culture of volunteering in youth so that the youth might find it exciting and competitive. But then again, ideas for humanity are very different from business,” she said.

I think it is important for the children to understand the importance of humanity

HH SAYYIDAH BASMA AL SAID