Dh5m for inspiring stories at Arab Hope Makers finale
AUDIENCE WILL CHOOSE WINNER FROM AMONG FIVE FINALISTS TOMORROW
The third edition of the Arab Hope Makers initiative draws to a close tomorrow, with the audience choosing the winner from among five finalists in Dubai.
The five finalists will be announced during a grand finale at the Coca-Cola Arena in City Walk and the audience will vote for the Dh1 million award-winner after watching each of the finalists’ inspiring stories.
Arab Hope Makers is the region’s largest initiative to honour philanthropic efforts, and they don’t necessarily have to be big. The initiative aims to tell people that they don’t need huge resources to make a change; on the contrary, it starts with small individual efforts driven by a desire to make a change, and the rest follows.
Biggest show yet
Speaking to Gulf News in an exclusive interview ahead of the finale, Hamdah Al Bigishi, project manager at the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), said: “This year’s Arab Hope Makers finale will be the biggest yet, with a host of Arab celebrities, media figures, social media influencers and leading humanitarians.
“The grand show will feature the big Arab headliners Nawal Al Kuwaitia, Emirati singer Balqees and Palestinian pop singer Mohammed Assaf.
“The multi-Grammy awardwinning singer and songwriter RedOne will bring a unique global touch with an unforgettable performance.”
92,000 entries, 38 nations
Al Bigishi pointed out that in its first edition, the Arab Hope Makers initiative received 65,000 entries from all over the Arab world. This increased to over 87,000 entries in the second edition. “This year [the third edition] has drawn a new record of 92,000 entries from 38 countries, including 15 Arab countries,” she said.
Al Bigishi said Egypt has topped the list of participation from Arab countries, followed by Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Palestine and Lebanon. From the West, Germany tops the list, followed by the US, Sweden and France.
No effort is too small
Al Bigishi said the initiative recognises even the smallest of individual efforts that hold potential for massive change.
“Faris Ali from Sudan, a finalist in the last edition, started distributing 20 sandwiches to students who were dropping out of school due to hunger. He went on to distribute over 49 million sandwiches over the past nine years, with the help of more than 1,200 volunteers,” she said.
Rigorous review
Candidates go through several qualifying stages before they are shortlisted to 20 semi-finalists. A specialised committee is formed to review and evaluate applications, and conduct field visits and interviews with the semi-finalists to examine the impact of their projects.
Based on an extensive evaluation of the impact and outreach of projects, the main committee selects five finalists.
The committee prioritises innovative campaigns that efficiently address challenges facing communities. Projects are shortlisted based on candidates’ commitment and dedication to ensuring the success of their initiatives in serving communities. The committee also looks at the initiatives’ progress over time, sustainability, continuity and replicability in other societies to benefit wider range of communities.
Free cardiovascular care
Al Bigishi said this year’s Arab Hope Makers aims to share the UAE’s message of hope with the region and the world through an innovative approach that instills the value of giving regardless of available resources.
For the first time since its inception, the Arab Hope Makers will be supporting an Arab Humanitarian Cause of the Year.
Al Bigishi said: “The ticket proceeds of the show will go towards supporting the establishment of the Magdi Yacoub Global Heart Centre in Cairo.
The Magdi Yacoub Global Heart Centre is a new dedicated facility equipped with the latest surgical technologies and qualified medical cadres.
The centre will conduct 12,000 heart surgeries annually. Its clinics will also receive over 80,000 patients annually and train over 1,000 cardiologists and cardiac surgeons through the Magdi Yacoub Global Heart Foundation.