HH Shaikh Isa bin Ali patronises 10th edition of his award for voluntary work

Manama, Sept. 27 (BNA): The concluding ceremony of the 10th edition of the Shaikh Isa bin Ali Award for Voluntary Work was held today under the patronage and in the Presence of Cabinet Affairs Undersecretary and Honorary President of the Good Word Society His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa. Organised by the Good word Society in cooperation with the Arab Voluntary Union on the virtual platform Zoom, the celebration was attended by Minister of Education Dr. Majid bin Ali Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) Hala bint Mohammed Jaber Al Ansari, Minister of Labour and Social Development Jamil bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Minister of Health Faeqa bint Said Al Saleh, Minister of Youth and Sport Affairs Ayman bin Tawfeeq Al Moayed, the Royal Medical Services Commandant Major General Dr. Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, Interior Ministry Undersecretary Shaikh Nasser bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, Secretary General of the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF) Dr. Mustfa Al-Sayed, Chief Executive of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) Dr. Ibrahim Janahi, senior officials and prominent personalities. 13 ministries and institutions were honoured for their distinguished contribution during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The list of honorees included Head of the National Taskforce for Combating Coronavirus (COVID-19) Lt. General Dr. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the President of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH), the Ministry of Interior, the Supreme Council for Women, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, the Ministry of Information Affairs, the Ministry of Youth and Sport Affairs, the RHF and Tamkeen. 19 individuals were also honoured for their voluntary work which contributed to protecting the health and safety of citizens and residents. They are Dr. Kawthar Mohammed Al Eid, Nadiya Abdulrahman Siyadi, Ahmed Sami Al Dosari, Zahra Mohammed Ahmed, Mohammed Mahmoud Al Saeed, Boudour Saleh Mousameh, Amjad Mohammed Jafar, Isa Al Kooheji, Fatima Khalifa, Waleed Mubarak, Fatima Ahmed Al Aradi, Rashid Hamad Abdullah, Zainab Ali Abdullah, Dr. Hassan Isa Al Majid, Nawal Ali Al Dhawadi, Hamid Marhoun Burashid, Mohammed Ibrahim Hassan Fadhel, Dr. Ali Ahmed Al Bakara, and Mahmoud Salman bin Rajab. Three voluntary works also won the Best Bahraini Voluntary Project Award. They are Noun Project, which won first place, while second place went to the free counseling project and lifelong follow-up for all cases of the elderly, the handicapped, cancer patients and cancer survivors, kidney transplant patients and dialysis patients, which was presented by Marafie Clinic. Meanwhile, the third place went to the recreational center project for children with disabilities, which was presented by the Bahrain Association for Parents and Friends of the Disabled. In his speech, the Cabinet Affairs Ministry Undersecretary and Honorary President of the Good Word Society HH Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa welcomed the attendees, stressing the great success of the award over 10 years at the local and international level. He pointed out its steady development to achieve set up goals in honouring volunteers for their noble role in serving the communities. HH Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa added that despite the challenges undergone by the Kingdom of Bahrain and the whole world because of the outbreak of COVID-19, there has been keenness on continuity of the award in its 10th edition and dedicating it to the frontliners in recognition of their efforts and tremendous contribution to alleviating the impact of the pandemic in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Labour and Social Development Minister lauded the role played by HH Shaikh Isa bin Ali in promoting voluntary work values, following the footsteps of the authentic approach adopted by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Humaidan asserted that the Shaikh Isa bin Ali Voluntary Work Award has contributed significantly to enriching voluntary work in the kingdom over the past decade, paying tribute to the Good Word Society for promoting the goals locally and at the Arab level. He hailed HH Shaikh Isa bin Ali’s directives to honour national frontline competences amid the exceptional circumstances resulting from the spread of COVID-19. He stressed that over 30,000 volunteers have achieved a solidarity and partnership story that deserves to be documented, noting that over 30,000 volunteers have assisted the frontliners of the fight against the pandemic while assuming their patriotic and humanitarian duties. Education Minister, Dr. Majid bin Ali Al-Nuaimi, indicated that the reputation of the Shaikh Isa bin Ali Voluntary Work Award has gone beyond Bahrain, and has become a source of pride for the kingdom, as it promotes one of Bahrain’s distinguished civilisational values –voluntary work. He praising dedicating this year’s edition to honouring national frontline competencies, in appreciation of the sacrifices they have made since the outbreak of the pandemic. He also paid tribute to HH Shaikh Isa bin Ali for honouring the Ministry of Education during the ceremony. Supreme Council for Women (SCW) Secretary-General, Hala Al-Ansari, said the award comes in the context of the influential community initiatives that believe in the importance of promoting voluntary work values in building a civilised Bahrain with a renewed vision aware of the aspirations of youth and of the need to provide them with sound guidance that will enable them to direct their energies and invest their capabilities in the service of their country. We find that such community initiatives contribute clearly and directly to the formation of close national relations between the people and their land, which empowers them to express, through their unconditional commitment, their love, allegiance and loyalty to their homeland, she added. Al-Ansari praised the role of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women, for her generous guidance, tireless follow-up, proactive initiatives and warm touches that have left a profound impact since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Bahrain. Such attributes have contributed to containing the COVID-19 repercussions on the Bahraini women and families whom HRH Princess Sabeeka is keen on providing with all forms of attention and care in times of trouble as well as in times of prosperity. Al Ansari expressed her deep thanks and appreciation for selecting the Supreme Council for Women among the official institutions to receive the special honour. Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Undersecretary, Dr. Shaikh Rana bint Isa Al Khalifa, said that the award represents an annual milestone in the field of social and voluntary work, and contributed to enhancing the kingdom’s social solidarity efforts across the region. She commended the efforts of HH Shaikh Isa bin Ali in supporting various voluntary work initiatives and practices in the kingdom. She expressed in the national duties carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in line with the visions of HM King Hamad, wisdom of HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and aspirations of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister. She paid tribute to the Foreign Ministry for the efforts being exerted by its directorates and diplomatic missions to serve the nation and the citizens, as well as ensure the safety of residents. She expressed thanks and appreciation to HH Shaikh Isa bin Ali and the Good Word Society for their tireless efforts to promote voluntary work. Arab Union for Voluntary Work President and Good Word Society Chairman, Hassan Bu Hazza, praised HH Shaikh Isa bin Ali for his directives to organise this year’s edition of the award, and to dedicate it to honouring the national frontline heroes who have contributed to mitigating the impact of the pandemic.