Dr. Issa bin Hassan Al-Ansari, Secretary-General of the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd International Foundation, affirmed that the Foundation is keen to serve the causes of comprehensive community development in various fields and at all levels, by intensifying efforts to develop and innovate qualitative initiatives and programs, most notably the launch of the Insignia in cooperation with the Arab Voluntary Union. This is due to the belief of both parties in the importance of the role of voluntary work in identifying the nature of development challenges in the world and proposing appropriate solutions to implement in the targeted communities, especially since volunteering is one of the main factors on which advanced societies are based today.

Dr. Al-Ansari also praised the joint cooperation between the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd International Foundation and the Arab Voluntary Union in the Kingdom of Bahrain, which aims to achieve a shared strategic vision to enhance voluntary work, humanitarian work, and social responsibility in various countries around the world. He affirmed that the Foundation will continue to support all voluntary initiatives and projects, and to support volunteers and encourage them to continue innovating and creating in voluntary work and developing it.

For his part, Mr. Hassan Buhazaa, President of the Arab Voluntary Union, praised the cooperation between the Union and the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd International Foundation, which resulted in the launch of the Insignia for four consecutive editions, pointing out that the Foundation has paid special attention to the Insignia, which has contributed to its development.

Buhazaa said, "The Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd International Foundation Insignia for Best Voluntary Work has now occupied a distinguished position among voluntary work awards worldwide, through its prominent role in enhancing cooperation between governments, NGOs, and individuals in supporting and backing voluntary projects that align with development plans that meet societal needs".

He continued, saying: "What distinguishes the Insignia is the continuous development of its mechanisms to keep pace with various circumstances and to suit the latest requirements, through specific conditions related to creativity, innovation, and the use of technology to spread the culture of voluntary work and take advantage of social media to promote projects to attract support to achieve a fundamental goal, which is to contribute to developing voluntary work in the world".

He added, "The Insignia has also come to include a number of judges with competencies and expertise from more than one Arab and international country, in addition to increasing the number of fields and linking them to the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. Through this year's fourth edition, we sought to maintain and enhance this position by creating channels of communication with various parties concerned with volunteering and strengthening the principle of effective partnership with organizations, bodies, institutions, and civil society associations, and encouraging them to support government efforts in light of the changes witnessed by the world".

Buhazaa pointed out that there is a complete consensus between the Arab Voluntary Union and the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd International Foundation to support pioneering projects and programs undertaken by civil society organizations, government institutions, and volunteer teams, and to provide a positive environment for them to achieve more creativity and innovation and benefit from best practices and experiences in this field.  

Hassan Mohammed Buhazaa, President of the Arab Voluntary Union, met with His Excellency Najib Mikati, Prime Minister of Lebanon, in the presence of Lebanese Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. George Kallas, the Secretary-General of the National Commission for UNESCO and Advisor to President Mikati for Educational and Cultural Affairs Heba Nashshaba, Advisor to the President of the Arab Voluntary Union Charbel Kabalan, and Mrs. Karina Nakkash.

Mr. Buhazaa stated: "The meeting was distinctive and fruitful. We found all the welcome, support, and encouragement, and we are optimistic about a distinguished partnership with the State of Lebanon and with several bodies. In 2023, there will be a larger and broader launch with distinctive and innovative programs that serve Lebanese youth and civil society organizations, and our participation in the launch of the youth vision for voluntary work, where we found all the enthusiasm among Lebanese youth and the great interaction of the officials who participated in the celebration, which is evidence of the Lebanese state's interest in supporting voluntary work and development programs, and we are ready to provide the best and best programs for Lebanon next year".

During the meeting, Mr. Kallas expressed his gratitude to the President for providing the opportunity to meet during the occasion of the international conference on the International Volunteer Day. He also expressed his gratitude for his constant patronage of this civilizational voluntary project. With the patronage of the President, it was agreed to sign memorandums of understanding and cooperation in the future, carrying the youth vision of the Lebanese state, based on the youth policy that was developed, and in cooperation with the National Commission for UNESCO to sign memorandums of understanding and cooperation in the future to spread the culture of volunteering in Lebanon specifically and in the Arab world in particular.

For her part, Nashshaba said: "We affirm that the National Commission for UNESCO has a partnership and distinctive role with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Arab Voluntary Union, and we have found that there is a great need in Lebanon for young people to start volunteering now, and President Mikati has encouraged the establishment of a partnership between the Arab Voluntary Union, the Ministry of Youth, and the National Commission for UNESCO, with this partnership being under the umbrella of the Prime Minister".

Riyadh, October 30, 2022 – Princess Al Anoud Center for Youth Development, in partnership with the Arab Voluntary Union and the Arab Planning Institute in Kuwait, launched the Princess Al Anoud Leadership Program yesterday. This program is designed to cultivate a new generation of leaders capable of shouldering responsibilities effectively and efficiently, while expanding youth participation in development initiatives.

The program was inaugurated by Dr. Yusuf Al Hazim, Secretary-General of the Al Anoud Foundation, who emphasized the importance of developing young leaders and the role of Al Anood Center for Youth Development in creating high-quality programs that align with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The program distinguishes between leaders and managers, highlighting the importance of developing and nurturing leaders in the development sector. It features numerous workshops led by international trainers from outside Saudi Arabia, and showcases successful case studies shared by leaders from various fields.

The program aims to enhance youth contributions to economic and social development efforts, empower youth to design development initiatives, and foster leadership skills and strategic thinking to unlock creativity.

Throughout the program, participants will design and develop initiatives that will be evaluated by experts. The program will conclude with a study trip to Kuwait for the winning initiatives.

This collaboration with key players in the third sector aligns with Al Anood Center's objectives of developing youth and enhancing their capabilities.

Source: SPA

Abu Dhabi, October 25, 2022 – Hassan Mohammed Buhazaa, President of the Arab Voluntary Union and Chairman of the Good Word Society, emphasized that the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, is experiencing an unprecedented surge in promoting social responsibility and volunteerism. Since the launch of King Hamad's reform project in 2002, Bahrain has witnessed a significant growth in civil society organizations, reaching 613 active organizations by early 2020.

Buhazaa highlighted the substantial support provided by the Bahraini government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to the non-profit sector. He also commended the efforts of the Royal Humanitarian Foundation, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the King's Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, which has played a pivotal role in fostering humanitarian work both regionally and globally.  

During his keynote address at the opening session of the "Global Volunteerism Conference," held in Abu Dhabi under the theme "Volunteering for the Common Good to Improve the Lives of Individuals and Communities," Buhazaa called for concerted efforts from all sectors of society to drive effective development. He emphasized the crucial role of volunteerism in complementing government efforts and highlighted the significant contributions of volunteerism in addressing global challenges such as poverty, hunger, healthcare, education, environment, industry, innovation, peace, and justice.

The Arab Voluntary Union president also discussed the Union's efforts in promoting volunteerism through various initiatives, including the "Prince Mohammad bin Fahd International Foundation Insignia for Best Voluntary Work," launched in 2018. This award has gained significant recognition for its open participation from organizations, individuals, government entities, and the private sector.

Buhazaa further highlighted the Union's annual "His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa Award to honor Arab pioneers of volunteerism," organized in collaboration with the League of Arab States to celebrate Arab Volunteer Day on September 15th.

In conclusion, Buhazaa expressed his delight at the gathering of prominent figures in the field of volunteerism at the conference, calling on all participants to work together to serve humanity and their communities.

Abu Dhabi – The 26th Global Volunteerism Conference kicked off today, Tuesday, in Abu Dhabi, bringing together participants from nearly 100 countries. The two-day event is held under the theme "Volunteering for the Common Good: Improving the Lives of Individuals and Communities".

Hundreds of participants from government, private sector, academia, civil society, and volunteerism pioneers worldwide are taking part in the conference's sessions and workshops. This international event addresses volunteerism issues and its ongoing role in the development of both societies and nations.

Organized in cooperation with the Emirates Foundation and the International Association for Volunteer Effort, the conference brings together experts in volunteerism and renowned volunteers from around the world. It offers diverse experiences that enhance the nature of volunteer work for individuals, companies, and governments alike.

The conference discusses ways to support and encourage communication, knowledge exchange, and experience-building among those who believe in the importance of volunteerism for improving and developing communities.

The sessions and workshops present real-life stories of volunteers, models of volunteer programs aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and strategies for building the essential foundations to achieve these goals.

Source: arabic.news.cn

His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Honorary President of the Good Word Society, emphasized that the award is a testament to the wise directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the dedicated national efforts of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, aimed at fostering the values of volunteerism as a fundamental pillar for societal progress and development.

His Highness recalled the profound attention and support given by the late His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to volunteerism and humanitarian work, through his ongoing charitable and humanitarian initiatives, driven by his belief in the responsibility towards people in various circumstances and occasions. His Highness also highlighted the significant contributions of His Highness Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Advisor to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in continuously following up on the award and supporting it in all its aspects.

This came in a speech delivered by His Highness at the ceremony, which was attended by Her Excellency Shaikh Khalid Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, on the occasion of the closing of the His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa Award for Voluntary Work, organized by the Good Word Society (to honor Arab frontline workers), in cooperation with the Arab Voluntary Union. The ceremony was also attended by Her Excellency Sheikh Basil Hamad Al-Sabah, Advisor to the Diwan of the Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait, Her Excellency Dr. Nevin Riad El-Kabbaj, Minister of Social Solidarity of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and a number of officials and prominent figures, amid significant media interest.

At the beginning of his speech, His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa welcomed the guests, recalling the tremendous successes achieved by the award at the local and international levels in each edition, fulfilling the noble objectives for which the award was established in recognition of the efforts of volunteers in serving their communities and countries.

His Highness said: "Dedicating the twelfth edition to honoring Arab frontline workers combating the COVID-19 pandemic comes in recognition of the contributions of this distinguished group who continue to work day and night with courage and bravery, facing all risks, so that society can enjoy health and safety in the face of one of the greatest health challenges facing the world. In appreciation of their work, the award primarily aims to encourage these actions that have positive impacts on society, especially in light of the spread of this pandemic. Honoring these cadres is an honor for sincere humanitarian giving and a way to present them as shining examples to be emulated by the youth and to benefit from and support them".

"His Highness expressed his gratitude to Her Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure, for gracing the closing ceremony with his presence, as well as to His Excellency and the Ministers, and to the President and members of the Good Word Society and the Arab Voluntary Union for their dedicated efforts in serving Arab voluntary and humanitarian work, and for embodying a distinguished and civilized Bahraini image. His Highness also commended the contributions and support of the sponsors and partners from the government, private, and civil sectors in Bahrain and the Arab world for their valuable contributions in making this Arab event a resounding success".

"The ceremony witnessed the honoring of 18 prominent Arab figures working on the frontlines, who made significant and distinguished contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Arab world and played a major role in promoting a culture of volunteerism during the pandemic. This was in recognition of their societal role, humanitarian and charitable contributions, and excellence in the field of charitable and voluntary work in their communities. Notable among them were Her Excellency Dr. Sheikh Basil Hamad Al-Sabah, Advisor to the Diwan of the Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait, Her Excellency Dr. Nevin Riad El-Kabbaj, Minister of Social Solidarity of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Her Excellency Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Saidi, former Minister of Health of Oman, along with others who played a clear role during the pandemic in the Arab world. A judging committee composed of Dr. Latifa Ali Al Manaei, an expert at the National Center for Supporting Civil Society Organizations at the Ministry of Social Development, Dr. Muhannad Al Fatayani, CEO of Quality Solutions for Consulting and Institutional Development - Bahrain, and Ms. Asmahan Mohammed Al Joudar, Head of Technical Materials Curricula at the Curriculum Department of the Ministry of Education, supervised the selection process".

"The Abdul Rahim Al Kooheji Charitable Endowment was awarded the His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa Award for Community Leadership, in recognition of its societal role, humanitarian and charitable contributions, and its excellence in the field of charitable and voluntary work through its adoption and support of numerous initiatives and programs targeting various segments of society in the Kingdom of Bahrain. In addition to its efforts in the field of development and empowering Bahraini youth to reach their full potential."

"In the category of Best Institutional Voluntary Performance for NGOs, a group of Bahraini NGOs won the award, fulfilling the specific criteria for the award, including the number of sustainable development programs they offer and their diversity, as well as the number of supporting development and charitable programs. Additionally, they received high ratings in the areas of governance, activities, programs, general management, and finance. These societies are: first place for the Discover Islam Society, second place for the Parents and Friends of the Disabled Society, and third place for the Kraneh Social Welfare Society".

"Furthermore, three voluntary projects won His Highness's Award for Best Institutional Voluntary Performance in the category of Best Pioneering Development Project for NGOs. The first place was awarded to the 'Rayat Scholarship Program' presented by the Al Khalifa Charitable Society, the second place was awarded to the 'Drug Recovery' project presented by the Drug Recovery Society, and the third place was awarded to the 'Prince Sultan Center for Hearing and Speech Development' project presented by the Bahrain Society for Child Development".

"The ceremony also witnessed the honoring of the sponsors who supported the award, including the GFH Financial Group, STC Bahrain, and the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC), as well as the media sponsors of the award: Al Bilad Newspaper and Al Ayam Newspaper".

"During the ceremony, Mr. Hassan Buhazza, President of the Arab Voluntary Union and Chairman of the Good Word Society, delivered a speech in which he affirmed that His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa's decision to continue organizing the award and dedicating this year to honoring Arab frontline workers who made significant contributions in mitigating the repercussions and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic was an appreciation from His Highness for this elite group that contributed to serving their communities. He also praised the leading role played by His Highness in supporting the course of voluntary work in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Arab world, through his adoption of numerous initiatives and proposals aimed at consolidating the culture and values of voluntary work and social solidarity as an important mechanism for the development and progress of societies, commending the generous support provided by His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali, through the continuous follow-up of the work of the organizing committee of the award".

"Buhazza added that the course of voluntary work in the Kingdom of Bahrain is witnessing continuous and remarkable development, which embodies the belief of the wise leadership in the importance of volunteering in contributing to the development and prosperity of society and achieving sustainable development and well-being".

"Buhazza said: 'The Good Word Society has been keen to activate the role of volunteering through the programs and activities it organizes that serve all fields. Through its young cadres, the society has been able to expand and launch a comprehensive strategic plan, through a large package of qualitative and pioneering projects and initiatives in the field of voluntary and development work, which has qualified it to win numerous local and Arab awards, in addition to recently obtaining ISO certification'".

"For their part, the honorees expressed their sincere gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the patron of the award, for this recognition, affirming that His Highness's award has become one of the most important Arab awards, which has contributed to consolidating Bahrain's leading position as a beacon of voluntary work and the first incubator for volunteers".

Under the patronage and presence of His Excellency Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman and Founder of the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global Group, the Knights of Peace Society in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan inaugurated its conference entitled “Women, Leadership and Sustainable Investment,” attended by Arab delegations from various countries, led by guests of honor Sheikh Engineer Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Sheikha Maryam bint Hamad Al Khalifa, former Prime Minister of Egypt Dr. Essam Sharaf, Engineer Fathi Jabr Afana, President of the Society Dr. Amin Abu Hujleh, and a host of interested parties and researchers. The participation of Mr. Charbel Kabalan, representing the President of the Arab Voluntary Union, Mr. Hassan Buhazza, was also notable.

Following the opening session, Mr. Charbel Kabalan delivered a speech on behalf of the President of the Arab Voluntary Union, Mr. Hassan Buhazza, conveying the President's greetings to the participants and expressing his gratitude to the organizers of the conference. He also shared a summary of the Union's contributions in supporting and promoting volunteering in Arab communities across various humanitarian and development fields, as well as implementing numerous international volunteer programs and awards to foster a culture of volunteering in the Arab world and establish constructive partnerships with international and local organizations for the benefit of volunteering in the Arab world.

At the end of the conference, Mr. Charbel Kabalan, representing the President of the Arab Voluntary Union, received an honorary shield for the Arab Voluntary Union from Sheikh Sultan bin Salman Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Ras Al Khaimah Civil Aviation Authority and President of the Knights of Peace Society, as well as from Dr. Amin Abu Hujleh. Additionally, the former Prime Minister of Egypt, Dr. Essam Sharaf, and Dr. Amin Abu Hijleh presented Mr. Charbel Kabalan with an appreciation shield for his valuable contributions to the success of the conference.

Participation in Delegations' Activities

The Union's advisor, Mr. Kabalan, also participated in the United Arab Emirates delegation's event commemorating the anniversary of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed's assumption of power in the United Arab Emirates, extending his congratulations to His Highness on his leadership of the UAE. He also participated in an event organized by the Knights of Peace Society on the occasion of the 92nd National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, extending his congratulations on behalf of the Arab Voluntary Union to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and the Saudi people, wishing them all the best.