Dr. Karim Darwish, the Administrative Apparatus Director at the Arab Planning Institute, commended the remarkable efforts exerted by the Arab Voluntary Union and the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd International Foundation in supporting humanitarian initiatives, voluntary projects, and development endeavors. He expressed his appreciation for the significant attention given by both parties to the Insignia since its launch in 2018, which has contributed to achieving its desired objectives of encouraging creative volunteer cadres to innovate ways to develop voluntary and humanitarian work, and spreading and promoting the concept of social responsibility in countries worldwide.

Dr. Karim Darwish stated, "The success achieved by the Insignia over the past four years in attracting a large number of voluntary projects from various countries worldwide reflects the extent of this award's reach and 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 globally, and in encouraging the owners of these projects to support government efforts in light of the changes witnessed by the world".

Dr. Karim Darwish touched upon the strategic partnership between the Arab Planning Institute and the Arab Voluntary Union, praising the support provided by the Union to the efforts of volunteers worldwide and enhancing the development process. He affirmed the alignment of the strategic objectives and visions between the two parties.

For his part, Dr. Abdelkader El Khissassi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean, appreciated the efforts exerted by the Arab Voluntary Union and the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd International Foundation in enhancing the role of government and private institutions, as well as NGOs and volunteer teams worldwide, through launching qualitative programs and global awards that contribute to encouraging them to provide innovative solutions to address challenges and serve the causes of comprehensive development in their communities. He affirmed the continued support and adoption by the Union for the Mediterranean of humanitarian and community initiatives of common interest in the Euro-Mediterranean region and globally.

It is worth noting that the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd International Foundation Insignia for Best Voluntary Work in the World aims to highlight the role of government institutions, commercial companies, NGOs, and volunteer teams in providing voluntary projects that contribute to addressing many of the development challenges facing societies, and encouraging their contributions to providing innovative solutions to confront challenges and crises. The awards will be distributed during the closing ceremony in February 2023 at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo.

The Arab Voluntary Union has announced the winners of the fourth edition of the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd International Foundation Insignia for Best Voluntary Work, organized by the Arab Voluntary Union in cooperation with the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd International Foundation in Saudi Arabia, under the patronage of the League of Arab States, and in partnership with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in Egypt, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Regional Office for the Arab States, the Union for the Mediterranean, and the Arab Planning Institute in Kuwait.

The judging committee evaluated the voluntary projects according to objective criteria that align with international standards in this field, with complete independence and impartiality. Eighteen voluntary projects were selected across six categories. In the category of health, well-being, sanitation, and clean water, the "Vein for Blood Donation" initiative from Morocco, the "First Step" project by the Kashf Breast Cancer Organization from Sudan, and the "Volunteer Business Incubator in Yanbu Industrial City (Volunteer Center)" presented by the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu - Social Services Administration in Saudi Arabia won.

In the category of economic empowerment, poverty eradication, and decent work, the "Restoring Hope in Old Mosul" initiative presented by the Muthabiroun for Good Volunteer Team from Iraq, the "Tamkeen" project presented by the Namaa Association for Community Development from Jordan, and the "Technology House" project presented by the Development and Technology Association in Naj Hamais from Egypt won.

In the field of education, eradicating illiteracy, and literacy, the "Masarat for Distance Learning" initiative from Syria, the Sudanese Organization for the Support of Education (SUDESO) project from Sudan, and the "Kanda for Children" project from Jordan won.

In the field of heritage, culture, and arts, the "Arabic Calligraphy, a Necklace of Pride Passed Down Through Generations" project presented by the Antonian Artistic Foundation from Lebanon, the "Ramadan with an Arab Flavor" initiative presented by the Tunisian Association for Modern Educational Technology from Tunisia, and the "Waqf of Arabic Calligraphy" project presented by the Qalam Foundation for Arts and Culture from Egypt won.

In the field of environment, climate, clean energy, and life below water and on land, the "Green Mosul" initiative presented by the Ain Al-Mosul team from Iraq, the "Green Workers" program presented by the Green Generation Foundation from Jordan, and the "Solaire Irrigation par énergie" project presented by MOUES Imed from Algeria won.

Finally, in the field of food security and hunger eradication, the "Sustainable Agriculture to Support Smallholder Women Farmers" initiative from Egypt, the "Relief for Rohingya Camps in Northern Thailand" project presented by Al-Rahma Charitable Association Asia in Thailand, and the "Organic Farming" project presented by Royal Green Technologies from Egypt won.

In this context, Mr. Hassan Buhazaa, President of the Arab Voluntary Union, expressed his great happiness for the winners of the Insignia, affirming that this win will be a milestone for them to develop their voluntary projects and expand their scope to serve their communities. He indicated that the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd International Foundation Insignia for Best Voluntary Work now stands on a solid foundation, thanks to the high expertise of its organizers, which has made it one of the largest global awards in the field of voluntary work.

For his part, Dr. Issa bin Hassan Al-Ansari, Secretary-General of the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd International Foundation, congratulated the winners on their innovative projects, affirming that the Insignia has been able to create a healthy competition and encourage distinguished ideas and initiatives that contribute to community development. He emphasized that all participants in the Insignia are considered winners, as they will benefit from participation by learning about the mechanisms for developing their projects, improving their capabilities, and ensuring their sustainability to serve their communities.

Dr. Al-Ansari explained that the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd International Foundation Insignia for Best Voluntary Work in the World comes as one of the qualitative initiatives launched by the Foundation in light of its humanitarian and social duty towards the people.

The judging committee for the fourth edition of the Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd International Foundation Insignia for Best Voluntary Work has completed the process of sorting and evaluating the voluntary projects submitted for participation this year, which reached 200 projects from various countries around the world.

In this context, Mr. Hassan Buhazaa, President of the Arab Voluntary Union, affirmed that the high level of participation this year confirms the remarkable development achieved by voluntary work worldwide, in addition to the positive impact that the Insignia has had in stimulating the enthusiasm to interact seriously with voluntary projects that serve communities. He pointed out that the voluntary projects that participated in the Insignia covered health, education, culture, heritage, environment, and humanitarian sectors, which confirms the fundamental value of voluntary work as one of the essential components of achieving comprehensive and sustainable development in cooperation with the public and private sectors.

Buhazaa said, "There is a great interaction from government institutions, commercial companies, NGOs, as well as volunteer teams with the Insignia since its launch, confirming its importance in highlighting the role of these institutions, entities, and individuals who have made significant contributions to serving and developing their communities, and putting their projects in the spotlight, as well as promoting a spirit of fair competition".

He added that the committee was keen in this edition to develop criteria for evaluating voluntary projects based on the general objective of the project, the target groups in the community, the nature of the innovation in the project idea and its distinctive aspects, as well as the mechanisms of work and the means used to achieve its objectives and address the problem, in addition to the criterion of the possibility of developing these projects in the future. In this edition, an important criterion was added, which is the nature of community partners and volunteers, whether they are international, regional, or local organizations, volunteers, as well as financing mechanisms and obtaining support, with a focus on the sustainability axis.  

Buhazaa pointed out that most of the submitted voluntary projects meet the requirements and conditions for participation, which are that the projects must be voluntary and consistent with sustainable development plans and standards, and that the project nominated for the Insignia must have contributed significantly to serving a large segment of society.

It is worth noting that the total financial awards allocated for the Insignia in its fourth edition amount to $90,000 distributed over six categories, where the first winner in each category will receive $10,000, while the second winner will receive $5,000. Six voluntary works from different countries of the world will also be honored, as these works have distinguished themselves in serving their communities, in recognition of their role and the services they have provided. These awards will be presented during the closing ceremony in February 2023 at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo.

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.