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Sharjah 24
a day ago
- Business
- Sharjah 24
Ghaya Pharmaceuticals: pillar of social responsibility in Sharjah
These efforts embody an ideal model of constructive cooperation between private institutions and government agencies in serving the community and promoting social cohesion. In this context, Hessa Al Hammadi, Director of the Department of Community Cohesion Department at SSSD, praised Ghaya Pharmaceuticals' contribution and efforts in supporting the department's social responsibility projects. Societal role Al Hammadi added that SSSD is proud to partner and integrate with Ghaya Pharmaceuticals and appreciates its prominent role in supporting the social and humanitarian initiatives for the department's projects. The continuation of this cooperation confirms the company's awareness of its societal and developmental role and reflects its true commitment to the values of giving and responsibility. The Director of the Department of Community Cohesion emphasised that community support is not measured by the amount of money provided, but rather by the value of the initiative itself and its impact. She noted that companies' keenness to provide any type of support, even small, reflects their awareness of their role in society. Effective community initiatives begin with a sense of responsibility, not the size of the contribution. Al Hammadi affirmed that the Department believes that concerted efforts between various sectors are the best way to enhance community cohesion and achieve sustainable development. She added that SSSD is keen to build long-term partnerships with institutions that believe in its mission and contribute to bringing about positive change in the lives of individuals and families, noting that such initiatives represent a true investment in people and society. Integration in consolidation of efforts For her part, Maryam Al Salman, Director of Social Responsibility Projects at the Department, emphasised that Ghaya Company is one of the most prominent companies supporting the Department's projects over the past years, and has continued its commitment to supporting a group of qualitative initiatives implemented this year that address the needs of various segments of society and achieve a tangible impact in improving quality of life. Al Salman stated that among the initiatives the company contributed to were supporting the "Sharjah Heritage Days" event by providing 25 wheelchairs for use by the elderly and people with disabilities during the event. In addition, the company provided financial support to the "Eid Joy" project, aiming to bring joy to the benefited. It also supported the "Basma" social responsibility project by contributing to the maintenance of a home for a needy family.
Sharjah 24
17-07-2025
- General
- Sharjah 24
Umm Abdul Latif: Sculpting Heritage Through Clay
Al Asalah Club In 2005, Umm Abdul Latif joined Al Asalah Club, affiliated with the Sharjah Social Services Department (SSSD). This club includes dozens of mothers over the age of 60. It aims to provide diverse social, recreational, and educational services to the elderly, with the aim of integrating them socially and enhancing their skills and abilities. It also seeks to document heritage and pass it on to younger generations. Beginning of a Journey Umm Abdul Latif's journey began after she completed her duties of raising her children, ensuring their well-being, and completing her studies. She began a new phase, which she described as the end of the beginning—the end of raising and caring for her children, and the beginning of realising her dream of introducing today's generation to their rich heritage and practicing her hobby of making traditional models. The Opportunity The opportunity came when the school asked one of her grandchildren to create a special model of the UAE, crafted by their parents. She designed the model, which won an award, and after that, her journey began. Umm Abdul Latif added that she designed this museum, which contains many details from her childhood, and she hosted important foreign and Arab figures. Awards Umm Abdul Latif made sure to visit the museum after her experience developed not only in the UAE but also regionally, and she won numerous awards, including the "Fariha Al Sabah Award for Ideal Mother" in Kuwait and the "Influential Figure Award" in Bahrain. She received an honorary doctorate from the American University of Technology, where her sculptures were greatly admired for their lifelike quality. She also received more than 300 certificates of appreciation from various institutions. Going Back in Time Umm Abdul Latif continued that many people around her want to buy her sculptures, but she refuses to sell them and prefer to give them as gifts, simply because they represent history... and history cannot be sold. She added that she is very happy when she is invited to participate in a heritage event, and she feels proud when she sees the admiring looks of others for the sculptures. This means that she has achieved her goal: to touch the depths of her being, to go back in time, and to discover these beautiful images filled with love, harmony, and affection between individuals in society. The Museum Umm Abdul Latif confirmed that this is often missed in people's lives today. She lived through both the eras before and after the oil era, and she loved both eras, regardless of their differences. Today, she hosts visitors in her museum, which she has renovated in every visual aspect, from lighting to attractive display of models on shelves. She also organises craft workshops in cooperation with Al Asalah Club, affiliated with SSSD, and encourages today's generation to learn about the UAE beautiful heritage. The museum's collections are models of real places, crafted in a lively, artisanal way, explaining the meaning of the material. Natural materials are used as they are. Umm Abdul Latif stated that she does not copy or rely on available images, but rather are engraved in her imagination. she bring them to life as they appear: the alleys, summer houses, winter houses, the barjeel, Sarah Haussmann Hospital, the neighbourhood tailor, the kuttab house, the fabric shop, Umm Abdul Latif Sculpting Heritage Through Clay, the Abu Dhabi Fountain, and many more. Future Generation With this passionate spirit and strong will, Umm Abdul Latif continues her exceptional story, shouldering a noble mission to preserve heritage and pass it on to future generations. The sculptures she created were not merely works of art, but a living pulse of the memory of place and time, telling the details of life with honesty and warmth. Umm Abdul Latif is not only a lover of heritage, but has become a living symbol of it, embodying through her story how passion can transform into a message, and memories can become a vibrant museum.
Sharjah 24
01-07-2025
- General
- Sharjah 24
SAVW Presents the Young Volunteer
The workshop was presented by Ms. Suad Al Shamsi, SAVW Acting Director, and attended by 25 children between the ages of 7 and 12. Introducing volunteering concept The workshop focused on introducing children to the concepts of volunteer work and its importance in serving the community, highlighting the various areas in which they can contribute, depending on their age and interests. The programme included a fun, practical component, where the children made bird feeders using simple materials. They then coloured them and filled them with food, ready to be hung outdoors. These activities were met with great interaction from the children, who demonstrated enthusiasm and creativity in their execution, fostering a spirit of giving and a sense of responsibility toward the environment and society. Developing volunteering spirit SAVW emphasised that this workshop falls within the framework of its vision to develop a spirit of volunteering among children from an early age and provide them with skills that will enhance their future community participation. SAVW noted that building a generation aware of the importance of volunteering contributes to achieving the emirate's vision of instilling the values of giving and effective contribution to building society. The Award commended SSSD efforts for continuing to raise awareness among children through the Hasad Programme, which is a pioneering model for investing children's free time during the school holidays in useful and enjoyable activities that contribute to developing their personalities and skills. This participation is part of a series of initiatives and events that SAVW seeks to implement in cooperation with various entities, promoting the concept of volunteer work and achieving integration among community institutions to serve all segments of society.
Sharjah 24
27-06-2025
- Health
- Sharjah 24
Sharjah Guides Kuwait's Age-Friendly City Journey
The workshop reviewed the Emirate of Sharjah's experience in the field of age-friendly cities. The workshop supported Kuwait's efforts to join UNESCO's Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities, which Sharjah became the first Arab city to join in 2017. Enhancing Arab cooperation The initiative comes within SSSD commitment to spreading the culture of age-friendly cities and sharing its expertise with relevant regional and international bodies. The department was keen to organise this training meeting to enhance Arab cooperation and provide the necessary technical and knowledge support to enable sister countries to adopt international standards in elderly care. Asmaa Al-Khudari, Director of the Office of Age-Friendly Quality and Health Services at the department, explained that the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health has shown great interest in joining the network, based on its significant efforts to serve the elderly through various projects and programmes. Sharing Sharjah's pioneering experience The ministry is currently seeking to unify these efforts within a comprehensive framework that takes into account the requirements of the international network. Al-Khudari added that the meeting is the second of its kind to be organised at the official request of the ministry. It aims to help them implement the age-friendly city standards and share Sharjah's pioneering experience in this field. Al-Khudari confirmed that SSSD always welcomes providing technical and advisory support to any entity seeking to create a better environment for the elderly. Enhancing knowledge and exchanging experiences Al-Khudari indicated that organising such workshops is part of the department's strategy to enhance knowledge and exchange experiences, and to consolidate Sharjah's role as a knowledge centre and source of inspiration for Arab cities seeking to improve services for the elderly. Al-Khudari said she hopes to see soon see the State of Kuwait on the list of the global network member cities, alongside other Arab countries that embrace this shared humanitarian vision. The workshop was attended by a number of officials from the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health, including Dr. Fatima Bin Dhafari, Director of the Department of Health Services for the Elderly, and Dr. Amal Al Yahya, Director of the Healthy Cities Office. A number of coordinators from government and private institutions involved in serving the elderly also attended, along with a distinguished group of elderly Kuwaitis. This reflects the ministry's commitment to listening to their feedback and taking it into consideration when developing future policies and programmes.
Sharjah 24
11-06-2025
- Business
- Sharjah 24
SSSD & Sharjah Municipality discuss electronic linkage system
The visit aimed to discuss ways of cooperation in electronic linkage and the exchange of data related to property ownership for beneficiaries of the department's services, particularly after the owner's death. This will contribute to achieving fairness and accuracy in assistance disbursement. The delegation was headed by Ms. Alia Al Zaabi, Director of the Social Assistance Department, and included Ms. Fatima Al Zarouni, Head of the Periodic Research Department, and Mr. Rashid Al Ketbi from the Information Technology Department. They were received by Mr. Faisal Al Mansouri, Head of the Rental Contracts Review Department, and Mr. Abdullah Al Shehail, Director of Rental Regulation at Sharjah City Municipality. Integrating databases During the meeting, several vital topics were discussed, most notably the importance of integrating databases between the two entities. This will enable SSSD to access accurate and up-to-date information on the properties owned by beneficiaries and verify their real estate returns when considering eligibility for assistance, especially after the owner's death, as the Emirates ID is revoked and direct access to property data is difficult. The department explained that this step comes in response to an urgent need in the social sector, as the lack of information after the owner's death leads to gaps in the assessment of eligible cases, which may result in inaccurate assistance disbursement. Thanks to the advanced electronic system adopted by Sharjah Municipality, it has become possible to link information to the property or plot number, allowing for continuous and automated tracking of any changes or updates to properties. Digital transformation The Social Assistance Department praised the advanced role played by Sharjah City Municipality in digital transformation and updating its electronic systems to enhance the quality of services provided to the community, stressing that this type of cooperation represents an exemplary model of government integration among local departments in the emirate. For its part, Sharjah Municipality welcomed this cooperation and expressed its willingness to support the department's efforts in developing social work mechanisms, emphasizing the importance of exchanging information to achieve efficiency and transparency in the provision of services to the local community. Realising social justice It is worth noting that SSSD seeks, through such partnerships, to build a smart system for social assistance. It is based on actual data and contributes to improving the quality of life for beneficiaries, in line with the Sharjah government's efforts to achieve social justice and sustainable development.
