In a move aimed at enhancing volunteer work and developing young cadres, Dr. Rasha Ragheb, Executive Director of the National Training Academy (NTA), received a delegation from the Arab Voluntary Union, headed by Mr. Hassan Buhazaa, President of the Arab Voluntary Union, Dr. Khaled Al-Azab, Vice President of the Union, Mr. Okail Ismail, General Coordinator of the Union in the Arab Republic of Egypt, Mr. Kamal Al-Maghribi, General Coordinator of the Union in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Mr. Hussein Al-Saeed, the Union's financial officer, and Mr. Mustafa Tarek, a member of the Union's Higher Coordinating Committee in the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The visit included a tour of the academy's facilities, where the two parties discussed ways to enhance joint cooperation in the fields of training and development, and to benefit from mutual experiences to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Both parties stressed the importance of this partnership in supporting efforts to empower young people and develop their capacities, and highlighted the pivotal role played by the academy in building qualified national cadres.

Cairo, Egypt – November 24, 2024: The first day of the fifth edition of the Arab Sustainable Development Week witnessed the launch of an opening session full of strategic partnerships and fruitful discussions on ways to achieve sustainable development in the Arab world. The Arab Voluntary Union participated in this important opening session with a delegation headed by Mr. Hassan Buhazaa, President of the Arab Voluntary Union, and attended by the Vice President of the Arab Voluntary Union, Dr. Khaled Al-Azab, the General Coordinator of the Union in the Arab Republic of Egypt, Mr. Okail Ismail, and Mr. Kamal Al-Maghribi, the General Coordinator of the Union in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Mr. Mustafa Tarek, a member of the Union's Higher Coordinating Committee in the Arab Republic of Egypt, reaffirming the Union's commitment to supporting efforts to build a better future for generations to come.

The opening session began with welcoming remarks by Ms. Nada El Agizy, Director of Sustainable Development and International Cooperation Department at the League of Arab States, who emphasized the importance of joint cooperation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The session included keynote speeches by prominent figures, including Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Dr. Stefan G. Koeberle, Director, Strategy and Operations, Middle East and North Africa Vice Presidency (MNA), World Bank Group, Ms. Elena Panova, Resident Coordinator in the Arab Republic of Egypt - United Nations, Mr. Youssef Khelaifi, Secretary-General of AlBaraka Forum for Islamic Economy, and Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation - Arab Republic of Egypt.

In a related context, the Arab Voluntary Union will hold a session entitled "Sustainable Volunteering in the Era of Global Digital Transformation" on November 25, 2024.

Cairo: In recognition of her ongoing efforts in promoting volunteerism and encouraging youth engagement in community service, the Arab Voluntary Union honored Dr. Rasha Ragheb, Executive Director of the National Training Academy.

This recognition comes as a testament to Dr. Rasha's pioneering role in inspiring future generations and emphasizing the importance of volunteerism in building our communities.

Dr. Rasha Ragheb expressed her gratitude for this honor, emphasizing the importance of the partnership between the academic sector and the volunteer sector in achieving sustainable development for Arab communities.

The ceremony was attended by His Excellency Hassan Buhazaa, President of the Arab Voluntary Union, Mr. Anwar Buhassan, Secretary-General of the Arab Voluntary Union, and His Excellency Okail Ismail, General Coordinator of the Arab Voluntary Union in the Arab Republic of Egypt, along with a group of leading volunteer figures in the Arab world.

Cairo: In a meeting that took place on the sidelines of the Prince Mohammad bin Fahd Award ceremony for the best charitable performance in the Arab world, Mr. Hassan Buhazaa, President of the Arab Voluntary Union, and Dr. Rasha Ragheb, Executive Director of the National Training Academy, discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two entities.

Both parties agreed on the importance of joining efforts to raise awareness about the significance of community and volunteer work, with the aim of cultivating a culture of volunteering among young people and encouraging their active participation in society.

Furthermore, they emphasized the importance of exchanging expertise and cooperation between the two institutions, contributing to the development of the volunteer work sector in the Arab world.

Cairo: In a testament to its ongoing efforts in humanitarian and charitable work, the Good Word Society has won the Prince Mohammad bin Fahd Award for the Best Charitable Performance in the Arab World, in its third edition.

The awards ceremony was held on Thursday, October 24, 2024, in Cairo under the patronage of Maya Morsy, Minister of Social Solidarity of Egypt, and in the presence of the Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and Head of the Social Affairs Sector, Ambassador Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, the Director-General of the Arab Organization for Administrative Development, Dr. Nasser Al-Qahtani, the Secretary-General of the Prince Mohammad bin Fahd Foundation for Human Development, Dr. Issa bin Hassan Al Ansari, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to Egypt, Her Excellency Ms. Fawzia bint Abdullah Zainal, and the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Egypt, His Excellency Saleh bin Eid Al-Hussaini, and the President of the Arab Parliament, Adel Abdulrahman Al Asoomi.  

This award is a recognition of the dedication and commitment demonstrated by the Good Word Society in providing support and assistance to those in need in the community. The society strives to improve the living conditions of needy families and promote sustainable development through a variety of projects and initiatives.

In a statement following the announcement of the win, Mr. Hassan Buhazaa, President of the Good Word Society, expressed his pride and appreciation for this achievement, saying: "Winning the Prince Mohammad bin Fahd Award is a crowning achievement for the dedicated team of the society who work tirelessly and believe that charitable work is a noble humanitarian mission, to provide the best services to the community."

He added: "This award is not only an honor for our society, but it is also an honor for everyone who contributed to the success of our charitable projects," thanking the Prince Mohammad bin Fahd Foundation for Human Development for this recognition.

Buhazaa affirmed that winning this prestigious award is a strong motivation for the team of the Good Word Society to continue giving and achieving more in the future and to continue working and its humanitarian service for the benefit of Bahraini society and the Arab, Islamic, and world peoples."

The ceremony was attended by a number of prominent figures from various Arab countries, where awards were presented to the best 27 Arab institutions that have made outstanding achievements in humanitarian work.

In a move aimed at strengthening cooperation and coordination among organizations working in the humanitarian and volunteer field, the Arab Voluntary Union announced the appointment of Mr. Bader Hamad Al-Mubarak, President of the Kuwaiti Association for Needy Families, as a member of its advisory board.

Manama, Bahrain: The Arab Voluntary Union, based in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in partnership with the Kuwaiti Association for Needy Families and in cooperation with the United Nations Volunteers program, concluded its innovative volunteering program on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. The three-day program, which took place from October 13-15, brought together 36 participants from Kuwait.

The program aimed to build capacities on how to develop creative and innovative volunteer ideas that contribute to enhancing volunteer practices and behaviors, creating a volunteer movement that serves empowerment and sustainability. It also aimed to innovate effective practices for planning and managing volunteer work, thus reducing effort and cost and aligning with technological advancements and digital transformation.

Dr. Khaled Hamoud Al-Azab, Deputy President of the Arab Voluntary Union and a UN training expert, delivered the training program.

In this context, Mr. Anwar Saleh Buhassan, Secretary-General of the Arab Voluntary Union, said: "The innovative volunteering program comes within the framework of strengthening partnerships and exchanging expertise with the Kuwaiti Association for Needy Families, to enhance volunteer and development work, and to support the efforts of volunteers to make positive changes that benefit their communities. The program also aims to enrich the thinking and creativity among volunteers, adopt their development initiatives, as well as enhance and develop capacities and cadres".

For his part, Engineer Bader Hamad Al-Mubarak, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kuwaiti Association for Needy Families, said that the innovative volunteering program primarily aims to support the efforts of volunteers, including youth, in various fields, and to enhance the development process, as volunteer work has significantly transformed into development work that supports and complements the official efforts of governments.

Manama: In a move aimed at strengthening Arab cooperation in the field of volunteerism, Mr. Hassan Buhazaa, President of the Arab Voluntary Union, and Dr. Mohamed Rafaie, Executive Director of Misr El Kheir Foundation, signed a joint cooperation protocol at the Union's headquarters in Muharraq, Bahrain, on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

The cooperation between the two parties will cover various areas, including organizing training programs, exchanging expertise, and launching joint initiatives aimed at developing the Arab volunteer sector. The two parties will also work to strengthen partnerships with other relevant institutions and implement joint projects that serve local communities.

In this context, Mr. Hassan Buhazaa, President of the Arab Voluntary Union, stated: "We are delighted to sign this protocol with Misr El Kheir Foundation as a strategic partner in the field of volunteerism.

This cooperation represents a qualitative leap towards building more developed and prosperous Arab societies. By joining our efforts, we will be able to achieve significant accomplishments in the field of volunteering, meet the needs of local communities, and enhance the role of youth in building a better future".

The Union looks forward to achieving more joint accomplishments with Misr El Kheir Foundation in the future, through the implementation of many initiatives and programs aimed at serving local communities and meeting their needs.

Manama, October 1, 2024: The Kingdom of Bahrain hosted the grand finale of the inaugural The Arab Council for Youth Award, an initiative organized by The Arab Council for Youth (ACFY), headquartered at Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU), in partnership with the Arab Voluntary Union based in Bahrain, the event also in partnership with the League of Arab States, the United Nations Volunteers programme, the United Nations Population Fund UNFPA, the Arab Planning Institute in Kuwait, the World Youth Forum, and The International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID).

The ceremony was graced by the presence of His Excellency Osama Bin Ahmed Al-Asfoor, the Minister of Social Development, and His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and Honorary President of the Good Word Society, along with a host of dignitaries and prominent figures from both Bahrain and the Arab world.

The event witnessed the honoring of four youth initiatives that aligned with 21st-century skills and targeted the Sustainable Development Goals. These included: Your Platform for Training from Morocco, a Youth Helping Youth  focused on innovative problem-solving, leadership, and decision-making from Egypt, Bevol Platform (Youth Platform for Volunteering and Social Entrepreneurship) from France, and a Promising Youth Initiative (Senses Project). Additionally, the ASEAN Youth Organization from Indonesia, The Education Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) – Morocco, and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Egypt were recognized under the award's "Enablers" track. The Saudi author and writer, Dr. Khalid Al Munif, was also honored under the "Inspirers" track in recognition of his outstanding contributions to youth empowerment and personal development.

Dr. Issa bin Hassan Al Ansari, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Arab Council for Youth (ACFY), congratulated the winners on their innovative projects, emphasizing that the award empowers youth by showcasing their exceptional efforts aimed at serving society and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. He highlighted the importance of investing in their initiatives and supporting them to continue innovating and developing their work.

For his part, Counselor Khamis Al Buzaidi, Director of the Civil Society Organizations Department at the League of Arab States, affirmed that the League's sponsorship of The Arab Council for Youth Award reflects its commitment to supporting organizations working to empower youth in the development field, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Vision. He emphasized the League's keenness to unify efforts and coordinate between Arab governments and civil society organizations to actively engage them in a joint framework that serves development issues at the Arab level.

Hassan Buhazaa, President of the Arab Voluntary Union, expressed his sincere gratitude to His Excellency Osama Bin Ahmed Khalifa Al-Asfoor, Minister of Social Development, and His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa for gracing the award ceremony, as well as to The Arab Council for Youth (ACFY) for its great support and outstanding efforts in empowering youth. He also commended the sponsorship of the League of Arab States and all partners, and congratulated the winners, wishing them all the best in developing their development projects.

The winners of The Arab Council for Youth Award expressed their deep pride and honor in receiving the award, and extended their sincere thanks and appreciation to the Arab Voluntary Union, The Arab Council for Youth (ACFY), and the organizers of the award for their support in promoting outstanding work. They emphasized that this award marks a milestone for a new phase of development for their projects and expanding their services.