Cairo, Egypt: The Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration with the Arab Voluntary Union, hosted the fourth edition of the "The Nile Ship for Arab Youth" program. The program brought together 120 young people from 13 Arab countries, including Jordan, Djibouti, Lebanon, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, UAE, Palestine, Oman, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. The initiative aligns with the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's declaration of the "Arab Youth Year."

Under the patronage of Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports and Chairman of the Executive Office of the Council of Arab Ministers of Youth and Sports, the program received approval and support from the League of Arab States, in implementation of the decision of the Council of Arab Ministers of Youth and Sports No. 1058 in its 46th ordinary session held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The welcoming events included a reception for the participants, a coordination meeting for the heads of the participating delegations to outline the program's agenda, and a visit to the most important historical landmarks in Upper Egypt.

The program aims to facilitate the exchange of experiences and expertise in innovative volunteering and food security among Arab youth, create an environment for developing joint projects and programs between Egyptian and Arab youth, unify opinions on common Arab issues, and develop proposals to continue developing youth cooperation between Egyptian and Arab youth. The program also aims to showcase available youth opportunities and stimulate the participants' intellectual and interactive engagement.

It's worth noting that the Minister of Youth and Sports attended the launch of the program, which will continue from October 7 to 18, 2023.

The Arab Voluntary Union participated in an extraordinary meeting of Arab unions to support the "Pulse of the Arabs" initiative to assist Sudanese affected by the war. The Union was represented by Mr. Anwar Buhassan, Secretary-General, and Mr. Okail Ismail, General Coordinator for Egypt, at the headquarters of the League of Arab States.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit; former Prime Minister of Egypt, Dr. Essam Sharaf; and the head of the initiative's higher committee, Ambassador Mohamed Abdullah Al-Tom, Sudan's ambassador to Cairo and its permanent representative to the League of Arab States. Also in attendance were the Deputy Chairman of the Higher Committee, Ambassador Kamal Hassan Ali; Director of the Department of Arab Organizations and Unions, Minister Plenipotentiary Mohamed Khair; President of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, Ahmed Al-Jarwan; and the Executive Director of the Forum of Arab Unions at the League of Arab States.

Hassan Buhazza, President of the Arab Voluntary Union, emphasized that Volunteer Tourism Day and its conferences offer an opportunity to celebrate the social, cultural, and economic values and benefits of volunteer tourism. This event also raises awareness of the role of volunteering in the tourism sector and highlights its importance in deepening cultural communication among Arab peoples.

Buhazza added that volunteer tourism and conferences contribute to strengthening Arab ties and increasing understanding and cooperation among peoples. Their role extends beyond enjoying tourist attractions to achieving comprehensive development and building a better future for future generations.

Buhazza affirmed that in light of the challenges facing the world, tourism plays a crucial role in boosting the economy, creating new job opportunities, and promoting sustainable development in host countries.

He stated, "The Arab Voluntary Union is committed to supporting and promoting volunteer initiatives in the tourism sector, and providing the necessary framework to empower volunteers and relevant organizations to achieve their aspirations and maximize the benefits of their efforts."

Buhazza added, "We recognize the great power of cooperation and coordination among Arab countries in this field, and we strive to strengthen these ties and exchange successful experiences and practices."

Buhazza expressed deep appreciation for all individuals and organizations working in the field of volunteer tourism and participating in conferences.

He called on all individuals, organizations, and Arab institutions to engage in volunteer tourism and participate in related conferences.

Buhazza also called on Arab governments and institutions to enhance support and encouragement for volunteer initiatives in the tourism sector, and to provide an appropriate and supportive environment for volunteers and relevant organizations.

He urged Arab youth to discover the beauty of their countries and cultures through volunteering in the tourism sector and contributing to sustainable tourism development.

His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Honorary President of the Good Word Society and Undersecretary of the Cabinet Affairs Council, affirmed that the award is an annual testament to the wise directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the dedicated efforts of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. These directives aim to strengthen the values of volunteering as a cornerstone of societal progress and development.

His Highness also commended the keenness of His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the King's Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, and His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the First Deputy President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, for elevating youth work in the Kingdom and encouraging young people to develop their field skills through volunteering.

The ceremony also witnessed the honoring of the award's sponsors: Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC), Al Bilad Newspaper, Al Ayam Newspaper, and Al Watan Newspaper.

"On this occasion, Mr. Hassan Buhazza, President of the Arab Voluntary Union and President of the Good Word Society, expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa for his gracious patronage of this award. This award truly reflects His Highness's pioneering role in supporting the advancement of voluntary work in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Arab world through his adoption of initiatives and proposals aimed at fostering a culture of volunteering and social solidarity. Mr. Buhazza commended His Highness's generous support and his continuous follow-up of the organizing committee's work, which embodies His Highness's keenness to honor and appreciate the Arab elite who contribute to serving their communities".

"He stated, 'The Good Word Society has been keen to activate its role through the programs and activities it organizes, serving various fields. Through its young cadres, the society has managed to expand and launch a comprehensive strategic plan that includes a large package of qualitative projects and initiatives in voluntary and development work. This has qualified it to win numerous local and Arab awards'".

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

"His Highness stated, 'The directives and follow-up of His Highness the Father, Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Advisor to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, have had a profound impact on supporting the award throughout its journey, which has brought it to its distinguished position in the Arab circles. The keenness of His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, to honor the closing ceremony of our award is the greatest motivation to do more to serve our dear Kingdom and enhance its position at the regional and international levels in various fields'".

"His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Honorary President of the Good Word Society, delivered a keynote address at the ceremony attended by His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, marking the conclusion of the thirteenth edition of His Highness’s Award for Voluntary Work. This award, organized in collaboration with the Arab Voluntary Union, recognizes pioneering volunteers across the Arab world".

"In attendance at the ceremony were His Excellency Jamil bin Mohammed Humaidan, Minister of Labor; His Excellency Hamad bin Faisal Al Malki, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Her Excellency Rawan bint Najeeb Tawfiqi, Minister of Youth Affairs; His Excellency Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Arab Republic of Egypt; His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Muhammed Al Zubair, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Olympic Committee of the Sultanate of Oman; as well as numerous officials, distinguished figures, and media representatives".

"At the outset of his speech, His Highness extended a warm welcome to the attendees, reflecting on the award's noble objectives. He expressed gratitude for the invaluable contributions of volunteers to their communities and nations, and commended the award for keeping pace with the significant transformation in public perception of volunteer work and its noble mission".

"His Highness stated, 'The Kingdom of Bahrain has always been at the forefront of community service and volunteer work, leading by example with its remarkable achievements. This has contributed to solidifying the Kingdom's leading position as a civilized nation that upholds the values of humanity and solidarity, while encouraging initiatives aimed at achieving peace, security, and stability worldwide'".

"His Highness expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister and the esteemed Ministers for gracing the closing ceremony with their presence. He also extended his thanks to the President and members of the Good Word Society and the Arab Voluntary Union for their dedicated efforts in serving the Arab community through volunteerism and humanitarian work. Furthermore, His Highness commended the contributions and support of the award's sponsors and all partners from the governmental, private, and civil society sectors, both domestically and internationally, for their pivotal role in shaping this Arab event and ensuring its continued success".

"Her Excellency Rawan bint Najeeb Tawfiqi, Minister of Youth Affairs, delivered a speech during the ceremony, commending the unwavering support of His Majesty the King, may God protect him, for the youth sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain. She also expressed her appreciation for the follow-up of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may God protect him, in advancing this vital sector. Furthermore, she praised the roles of His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa in achieving progress for the youth sector, particularly in the field of volunteerism".

"Her Excellency highlighted the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa in promoting a culture of volunteerism in the Kingdom and the Arab world, which has positioned His Highness's award as one of the most prominent awards aimed at encouraging Arab youth and individuals to strengthen volunteerism in our communities".

"The ceremony witnessed the honoring of 15 distinguished figures who have pioneered voluntary work in the Arab world. This recognition is in appreciation of their outstanding contributions to humanitarian work and their pivotal role in fostering a culture of volunteerism. Among the distinguished honorees were His Excellency Mr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and His Excellency Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Their dedication and commitment have made a significant impact on the Arab region".

Abdulrahman Kanoo Company was awarded the His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa Award for Community Leadership, in recognition of its significant contributions to the community through various initiatives and programs targeting different segments of Bahraini society, as well as its efforts in the fields of development and humanitarian work.

"In the category of non-governmental organizations winning His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa Award for the Best Bahraini Voluntary Project, the Bahrain Deaf Society won first place for its Visual Center for Sign Language project. Bahrain Trust came in second with its Hospital School project, and the Isa Town Social Charity Society took third place for its Digital Transformation project. As for the category of volunteer teams and individuals, the Academy of Volunteer Paramedics team won first place, the Dream Big team from (Halq Behlmak) won second place, and the Amal Cloud Volunteer Team won third place for its Amal Cloud project".

Thirty-five young men and women showcased their volunteer work and initiatives, contributing approximately 11,095 volunteer hours across various fields, in collaboration with government, private, and non-profit sectors. This was during the closing ceremony of the "Innovative Volunteering Forum" organized by the Eastern Province Municipality in partnership with the Arab Voluntary Union and the United Nations Volunteers, which lasted for four days and concluded yesterday evening (Wednesday) at a hotel in Dammam. The ceremony was attended by the Union's President, Hassan Buhazza, the Director of the Volunteering Department at The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Nuwar Al-Haydhl, and the Director General of Housing Affairs in the Eastern Province, Engineer Abdullah Al-Muwehi.

Mahmoud Al-Ratwi, the Deputy Secretary General for Services, explained that the forum aimed to equip participants with the necessary skills to develop ideas and initiatives, transforming them into innovative volunteer programs while enhancing their knowledge of creative volunteering. He emphasized their efforts to solidify the principle of community volunteering through modern methods that foster innovative and professional volunteer initiatives, ultimately achieving a model path and a strategic goal of sustainable volunteering, which the municipality and its affiliated municipalities are working to develop and implement in their programs.

Al-Ratwi pointed out that the forum targeted 35 young men and women as part of the volunteer training program, during which they acquired 700 training hours, equivalent to 20 hours per participant, certified by the United Nations Volunteers. The program was designed to align with the objectives of the The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, under the follow-up and interest of the Governor of the Eastern Province, Engineer Fahd bin Mohammed Al-Jaber. He added that the participants presented their previous volunteer work and initiatives, through which they achieved approximately 11,095 volunteer hours in cooperation with various sectors. He noted that the forum addressed the most prominent global experiences in urban sustainability, with the aim of assisting trainees in creating quality volunteer initiatives that can be utilized to develop cities according to innovative standards.

Mahmoud Al-Ratwi expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Arab Voluntary Union and the United Nations Volunteers, partners in the success of this forum, for their contribution to promoting the culture of innovative volunteering and achieving sustainable development that aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the objectives of The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs by involving volunteers in its diverse activities to stimulate volunteer practices.

Hassan Buhazza, President of the Arab Voluntary Union, stated that this joint cooperation in this field comes at a time when the nation is witnessing rapid development in all sectors, including the Kingdom's focus on youth and volunteer work, which is a significant renaissance resulting from the leadership's interest in the Kingdom. He pointed out that these developments and the progress witnessed by the Kingdom have become a model for all Arab countries, noting the Arab Voluntary Union's keenness to be present and participate in the Saudi work in this field through a number of partnerships, including the municipal and housing sectors. This is an opportunity to provide the expertise and capabilities of the Union in this volunteer program and the accompanying workshop to generate innovative project ideas that serve municipal and environmental work and provide an opportunity for young volunteers to be creative.

The workshop trainer, UN expert and Deputy President of the Arab Voluntary Union, Dr. Khaled Al-Azab, described the training as a deep discussion on volunteering and innovation, resulting in more than 20 innovative ideas that were narrowed down to 6 projects to be developed by the trainees to achieve a creative and innovative outcome for these projects.

Najd Al-Dosari, Director General of Community Participation at the Eastern Province Municipality, affirmed the municipality's keenness to support creative and innovative ideas from the participants, with the aim of improving municipal work and raising the level of social responsibility through the participation of youth in providing innovative solutions to a number of challenges in neighborhoods and parks in the Eastern Province.

At the conclusion of the forum, the Deputy Secretary General for Services, Mahmoud Al-Ratwi, honored the participants and participating parties. The forum also included a number of creative ideas for a number of municipal projects, such as "The Most Beautiful Neighborhood," "Jiran," "Our Tree, Our Shade," "Developing Parks," "Improving the Appearance of Automotive Industries," and "Developing Half Moon Beach Shades."

Source: Al-Riyadh Newspaper (alriyadh.com)

Members of the Arab Voluntary Union expressed their appreciation for the Kingdom of Bahrain hosting the Union's headquarters, a testament to the keen interest shown by the wise leadership under His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of the country, and the dedicated efforts of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in promoting voluntary work and highlighting its role in comprehensive development at both the Arab and international levels.

This came during the ordinary general assembly meeting held by the Union to discuss all items on the agenda, most notably the election of a new board of directors for the 2023-2027 term, as well as the election of a deputy president of the Union, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. The election results saw the victory of six Arab countries: the Republic of Yemen, the Republic of Iraq, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, the Republic of Tunisia, and the Lebanese Republic, in addition to the Kingdom of Bahrain, the presidency and headquarters state.

Yemen also won the position of Deputy President of the Arab Voluntary Union, which was secured for Dr. Khaled Hamoud Al-Azab, President of Attanweer Development Foundation. In its first meeting, the board of directors decided to renew its confidence in appointing Mr. Anwar Buhassan as Secretary-General of the Union for the 2023-2027 term.

The general assembly discussed the Union's work plan for the upcoming term, which emphasized the importance of networking among Union members, official and civil society institutions, to serve the Arab community in accordance with current developments and events, as well as the importance of investing in youth energies, encouraging creative voluntary cadres, and building capacities and community awareness to develop and elevate societies, with the participation of representatives from all Arab countries.

In his speech, Mr. Hassan Buhazza, President of the Arab Voluntary Union, said: "The coming period will witness many developments in the programs and activities organized by the Union, which will expand its scope of work to include all Arab countries, in an effort to spread the culture of volunteering in cooperation with all members and coordination with official and private sector institutions and civil society organizations to contain Arab efforts in this field and embody the culture of joint Arab work to serve comprehensive development".

It is worth noting that the Arab Voluntary Union, headquartered in the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an international non-governmental organization registered in the Kingdom of Bahrain by a decision of the Council of Ministers and is a member of the Forum of Specialized Arab Unions at the League of Arab States.