UAE: Al Manal humanitarian initiative marks a decade of philanthropy

2023 showcases the UAE’s sustainable approach to addressing climate change. The Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative is working this year with Dubai Cares, part of the Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiative (MBRGI), to support the integration of education into the global climate agenda.

Dubai Ladies Club will host the eighth edition of the Design for Hope charity exhibition organized by Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative from 5-7 April featuring Emirati designers, jewelers and fashion designers. All proceeds will be distributed to Dubai Cares and will be used to support the integration of climate change issues into educational curricula and systems – reflecting the UAE’s values ​​that emphasize the importance of humanitarian work.

Mona Al Marri, Chairman and Managing Director of the Dubai Women Establishment, said the Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative supports Dubai Cares’ efforts in highlighting and emphasizing the importance of integrating climate change awareness into the education system as an important tool to raise awareness of climate change threatening the planet. adverse effects.

She stressed that these joint efforts help to strengthen the UAE’s global standing and underscored its active participation in addressing global challenges – especially the issue of climate change as it relates to many other issues such as health, water, education, development, economy and Gender balance, all of which form the pillars of the Sustainable Development Goals.

She added that over the past 10 years, the Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative has initiated and implemented many philanthropic projects and activities targeting various segments of society and causes, with a focus on education, health and water safety, which exemplifies the humanity of the Sheikha Manal bint Vision of Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Sheikha Manal is keen on the sustainable, significant and tangible impact these programs have on the lives of beneficiaries, especially women and girls, as it contributes significantly to the social, economic and political development process of any country, she added .

Mona Al Marri said the partnership between Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative and Dubai Cares confirms the UAE’s global development approach, referring to previous areas of cooperation between the two entities, including Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative’s contribution to the “Book 2030” campaign The support was launched by Dubai Cares in 2019 to provide educational opportunities for children and young people in need to help them realize their future career aspirations.

The two parties also collaborated on the ‘teachHER’ campaign launched by the Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative in 2017 and 2018 to increase children’s access to quality education, specifically supporting girls’ education globally.

Commenting on the importance of collaboration, Dr Tariq Al Gurg, CEO and Vice-Chairman of Dubai Cares, said: “Climate change is a growing global crisis that disproportionately affects women and girls and exacerbates the challenges they face in many places. of learning inequality in a world. By placing education on the global climate agenda, we can catalyze change that will not only reduce the adverse impacts of climate change on women and girls, but also empower them to become leaders in climate action.”

He added: “As our long-standing partner, the Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative has made a significant contribution to our global efforts to improve the lives of children and youth, especially girls, through access to quality education. Now, with Dubai Cares as its exclusive As education partners prepare for COP28, we thank the Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative for hosting the Design for Hope exhibition for helping us advance climate change education for women and girls and position education as a vital opportunity for them to contribute play a bigger role in climate change solutions.”

Since its launch in 2013, the Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative has implemented many campaigns and programs in various fields such as health, education, food and support for women workers.

In 2013, the initiative supported the prevention and treatment of one million people suffering from vision diseases in different parts of the world through the “Noor Al Hayat” project.

In 2014, it supported the UAE Water Aid Initiative, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to provide Provide better access to safe drinking water, hygiene and sanitation.

In 2015, in response to Sheikh Mohammed’s ‘UAE Initiative Connecting Orphans and Minors’, Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative launched the ‘Selah’ Art Project to Help Orphans and Minors, which utilizes the therapeutic effects of art Help orphans “connect” with their creative spirit.

During the 2020 COVID-19 crisis, Al Manal Humanitarian Initiatives launched ‘ReacHer’, an initiative providing women with mental health support and counseling services to support women coping in their familial, social and economic roles Impact of COVID-19 and implications of the pandemic. The ‘ReacHer’ initiative was implemented in partnership with Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) and several mental health practitioners, including psychologists, psychiatrists and therapists, who counsel women through various safe communication channels.

In 2022, the Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative supported an eye health program implemented by the Noor Dubai Foundation in Katsina State, Federal Republic of Nigeria, targeting 160,000 male and female students and 3,000 teachers in 194 primary schools in the state through regular eye examinations , and provide medical glasses to those in need.