Nation’s pride on parade
▶ Those recognised include families of Emirati martyrs, the UAE’s first deaf teacher and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is joined by Brig Faisal Mohamed Al Shehhi as he inspects cadets at a graduation parade for the 8th cohort of National Service recruits and 6th cohort of National Service volunteers at Zayed Military City yesterday.
Saif Al Mansoori says he is about 105 years old, but his exact age is contested and no one really seems to know. Although his body is frail, his memory is sharp as he tells how he danced the Emirati folk dance at the wedding of the Dubai Ruler’s parents.
“We celebrated for a month at Sheikh Rashid’s wedding. I was alive before Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid was born,” he says.
Mr Al Mansoori is one of the 46 Emirati pioneers of charity work who were yesterday recognised for their efforts by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, in a ceremony to mark the 46th National Day and the Year of Giving.
Mr Al Mansoori was awarded for a lifetime of charity work.
“I am a diver … for pearls, sharks, hammour, everything,” he says. Whatever he caught, he distributed to those in need.
Launched on December 1, 2014, the UAE Pioneers Awards are the culmination of a social media initiative that began with a tweet from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid a month earlier, when he called for pioneers who helped the country develop to be honoured and therefore remembered by future generations. The hashtag campaign prompted Emiratis to nominate compatriots who they believed were pioneers in their respective fields.
Among those honoured were the families of six Emiratis killed in a terrorist bombing in Afghanistan while carrying out humanitarian work in January.
The families of Emirati martyrs were also honoured, as were 46 inspiring role models including the first deaf teacher in the country and a woman with the greatest number of hours spent volunteering.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, was honoured by Sheikh Mohammed for his humanitarian contributions, specifically his work to eliminate preventable diseases such as polio.
“I am very grateful to my brother Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid for this generous gesture, which is a tribute to the nation’s values of humanitarianism and philanthropy that we all hold dear,” said Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.
“There is no better feeling than planting the seeds of hope, to help those in need. It increases our will and determination to continue our nation’s march towards progress and prosperity.”
Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, was honoured for his charitable work, including establishing the Emirates Field Hospitals at the Emirati-Jordanian Refugee Camp and the launch of the Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Foundation.
The youngest person to receive an award was a three-yearold member of the Al Junaibi family. Fawzia Al Junaibi accepted the award on behalf of 40 family members – honoured for being the largest family involved in charity work.
“The entire family will gather and decide how they can help the needy, not only in the UAE but worldwide,” Saeed Al Junaibi said. For their most recent initiative, the family went to Syria to donate winter clothes.
Media personality Munther Al Muzzaki received an award for his use of social media to rally people to donate. “All I did was put people in touch with each other. I still can’t believe that I was given such a prestigious award or that the leadership was aware of the work I was doing,” he said.
Fatima Al Jassim, 21, was awarded for founding an English platform that trains people to interact with disabled people. “It makes me feel appreciated,” she said.
Bedour Al Raqbani opened the first social enterprise in the UAE to provide support for people with special needs. She says discovering her child was deaf led her to make a difference for other children too.
“We do our work out of love and out of care, we are not expecting anything. To receive this award is breathtaking.”