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The National
23-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Sheikh Mohammed awards prizes to Arab Hope Makers 2025
The winners of the 2025 Arab Hope Makers award were announced at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena on Sunday evening. Samar Nadeem, Ahmed Zainoun and Khadija Al Qarti will receive Dh1 million each in recognition of their humanitarian work. The award was established by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to honour people in the Arab world who dedicate their lives to humanitarian work. Ms Nadeem, also known as Egypt's rose, provides a safe haven for abandoned and neglected elderly mothers. She offers them shelter and picks them up from the streets after they have been abandoned by their families. 'I always tell my kids, if I grow old and wear a nappy, don't leave me. It's only a matter of days before I go to God,' she said. 'I hope that anyone who has a parent on the street will take them in before I do. It doesn't mean that just because your parents are sick, you should abandon them. They are heaven on earth.' Mr Zainoun cares for Children of the Moon, who suffer from a rare disease where exposure to sunlight causes extreme damage. 'I never imagined that people lived in the dark. A child dies without anyone hearing a voice,' said Mr Zainoun, from Morocco. Mr Zainoun provides everything for them, including masks with a heat-protective layer, making it his mission to bring them out into the sun. Ms Al Qarti, also from Morocco, lost her husband to cancer, which inspired her to help people in any way she could. She opened her home to cancer patients, sheltering more than 120 women at a time. Over 15 years, her house became a haven for 60,000 women suffering from cancer – many despondent, and one suicidal. She took in 30 patients per day, providing them with food, drink, and a place to sleep for free. 'I have one door. God has many doors,' she said. Arab Hope Makers was established in 2017 by Sheikh Mohammed. It attracted more than 300,000 nominations during its first four events. The award was launched to celebrate people engaged in projects that improve and uplift society. Sheikh Mohammed said the fifth Hope Makers received more than 26,000 stories from young men and women. "Hope is the bridge that connects the reality we live in and the future we desire. We must contribute to building bridges for millions of young people so that they are not overcome by despair and hopelessness," said Sheikh Mohammed earlier this month. In December, the Dubai Ruler encouraged people to nominate themselves or others on the Arab Hope Makers website. At the end of last year, Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Secretary General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, spoke of the importance of the award in showing charitable endeavours all over the region. "This initiative is a realistic call to combat despair and negativity by focusing on the positive within our Arab communities," Mr Al Gergawi said.
Khaleej Times
23-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Dubai Ruler crowns Arab Hope Maker 2025; 3 winners awarded Dh1 million prize money
Ahmed Zeinoon from Morocco was crowned the Arab Hopemaker 2025. He will receive a prize money of Dh1 million to continue his work with Children of the Moon- children who suffer from a rare generic disease called Xeroderma pigmentosum that cause them to develop cancer when exposed to the sun. He has been helping them with full face masks and other protective gear needed to deal with the disease. His fellow nominees Moroccan Khadeeja Al Karta and Egyptian Samar Nadeem were also granted Dh1 million to continue their humanitarian work. Khadeeja turned her pain as a source of inspiration to help others. After losing her husband to cancer, she turned her house into a safe haven for female cancer patients from around Morocco, who had no one to care for them. 'Every day we give food, shelter and free transportation to over 30 women,' she said, at the event. Since she started her initiative, her home has been a haven of peace and security for over 60,000 women. Samar has been rescuing homeless and abandoned people off the streets of Egypt for several years now. Fondly called the 'flower of Egypt', Samar said she often had to face hostility when she tried to help people. 'Many of those living on the streets would beat me and try to resist my efforts to help them,' she said. 'These people have not had any kindness shown to them. So they are not used to it.' Arriving on the stage, Samar had to often wipe away her tears while she advised the audience to be kind to their parents and not abandon them. The winners were announced in a glittering ceremony at Coca Cola Arena in Dubai on Sunday in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai. This is the fifth edition of the region's largest initiative dedicated to recognising individuals committed to giving and philanthropy. This year, the award received over 26,000 nominations from young men and women who have been working to create an impact around the Arab works. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. The judging panel, consisting of experts and specialists, selected the finalists based on the tangible positive impact that their initiatives made on their communities. The committee evaluated each nomination against specific criteria, including the initiative's theme, associated challenges, its role in driving real and lasting change, and its potential to reach the intended beneficiaries. Last year, Iraqi pharmacist Tala Al Khalil, who cares for hundreds of youngsters with cancer won the award. Her fellow finalist nominees- an amputee who inspires several others like him, a YouTuber who uses his channel for good and a childless woman who adopted 34 young girls were all awarded Dh1 million each to continue their humanitarian work Since its launch in 2017, the Arab Hope Makers initiative has attracted more than 320,000 nominations. The initiative, which operates under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives foundation, aims to highlight the inspiring figures in the Arab world—both men and women—who dedicate their time, efforts, and resources to serving others, assisting the underprivileged, supporting those in need, and contributing to improving lives within their communities. It also seeks to showcase their projects and initiatives across traditional and digital media platforms, as well as new media channels, raising their recognition both locally and across the Arab world.
