Jawaher Al Qasimi grants high-level medals to influential leaders

The list of honorees includes Her Excellency Sheikha Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, the Director General of FUNN - Sharjah Media Arts for Youth and Children Foundation, Her Excellency Mariam Mohammed Al Hammadi, the Director General of Big Heart Foundation, Her Excellency Hanan Al Mahmoud, Vice President of the Sharjah Women's Sports Foundation, Her Excellency Reem bin Karam, the Director General of Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council,  Hanadi Al Yafei, Director of the Child Safety Department in Sharjah, Her Excellency Afaaf Al Meri, the Chairperson of Sharjah Social Services Department in Sharjah, Dr. Abdulaziz Al Numan and  Jassim Al Balushi, members of the Board of Trustees of Rubu' Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators,  Moza Buharoon Al Shamsi, the Deputy Director of Sharjah Youth, and from the Executive Office of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, the medal was bestowed upon Saleha Al Suwaidi, , financial consultant, and Hafsa Ali Al Raeesi, the Director of the President's Office.

The medals are awarded under the guidance of Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, in recognition of influential personalities in the development of institutional services for the community. The "Continuous Giving" medal is bestowed upon individuals who support the journey of Her Highness's institutional system through managing various projects that serve the four sectors under the institutions. These sectors include child and youth development, family and community advancement, women empowerment, and charity and philanthropy. These individuals have distinguished themselves through exceptional performance and dedication to their work, both within their official responsibilities and beyond, significantly contributing to the achievement of institutional goals and overall success. On the other hand,  the "Outstanding Performance" medal is awarded to individuals within Her Highness's institutional workforce who have served in a specific institution, demonstrated loyalty to it, and contributed to achieving positive change in its trajectory.


Global achievements for local artistic works

Under the leadership of Her Excellency Jawaher bint Abdullah Al Qasimi, who heads an institution fostering youth and children's creativity in the fields of arts and cinema, FUNN has been able to advance in the visual arts sector. Throughout her 13-year tenure leading the institution, Jawaher bint Abdullah has ensured that the institution goes beyond its traditional role and explores new opportunities to enrich Arabic content. The institution produced the first animated science fiction series, "Ajwan," adapted from a novel by Emirati author Nora Al-Noman, featuring renowned names in the Arab arts field such as the Egyptian artist Yousra and the Syrian actor Bassel Khayyat.

Under her presidency of the Sharjah International Film Festival, which began in 2013, the festival attracted international cinematic works that enriched the cinematic knowledge of its attendees, enabling them to produce valuable local cinematic content. Additionally, 100 children and young people were trained to become competent film jurors capable of analyzing the cinematic image, as well as the human and technical dimensions in award-nominated films.

A Long Journey in Assisting the Needy

Mariam Mohammed Al Hammadi began her professional career within the framework of Her Highness's institutions by joining the "Salam Ya Saghar" campaign in 2012. She took over the management of the Big Heart Foundation upon its establishment in 2013, translating Her Highness's humanitarian vision into improving the lives of the underprivileged. Under her leadership, the foundation was able to provide assistance to more than 4 million beneficiaries worldwide through the implementation of dozens of humanitarian relief campaigns for refugees, including the recent " Tarahum for Gaza " campaign to aid the Palestinian people. Mariam Al Hammadi personally oversees the implementation stages of projects initiated based on Her Highness's directives in several countries. The most recent project was the South Hospital at the National Cancer Institute in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, which the Big Heart Foundation developed and fully rehabilitated to serve over 250,000 cancer patients annually.

Consistent Excellence in Sports Contribution

 Hanan Al Mahmoud has held various positions in the fields of business management and social responsibility. She has participated in the management and implementation of several initiatives with the Sharjah Ladies Club. She also established Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre, which greatly contributed to the development of the hospitality sector in Sharjah. With significant impact, Al Mahmoud has made a significant leap in the journey of women's sports in Sharjah since joining the Sharjah Women's Sports Foundation as a member of the executive committee, and later assuming the position of Deputy Chairperson of the foundation. Throughout her sports career, she led a highly successful edition of the Arab Women's Club Games, which saw the participation of 560 players from 15 Arab countries and witnessed exceptional performance from the participating athletes. As a member of the Board of Trustees of the Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi Award for Sports Excellence, she played an influential role in shaping a comprehensive strategy for the award's first edition. The award honored 12 individuals and families, in addition to several sports personalities and institutions that shared a passion for sports and created opportunities to support the emirate's footprint in sports and achieve the goals of the national framework for quality of life.

A Fingerprint in Every Sector

Reem bint Karam possesses an extensive footprint with the social institutions she has led as the wife of the Ruler of Sharjah. Her journey began with her membership in the Sharjah Forum for Development in 2006. Since then, she has achieved remarkable accomplishments in various social sectors. During her management of children's centers, bint Karam worked to elevate the aspirations in child development, contributing to the relaunch of the Children's Shura Council with an updated system of policies and regulations that enhance this unique experience for children. Hundreds of children who participated in this parliamentary experience have developed a passion for community work, gained an understanding of their needs, and engaged in discussions on relevant issues.
In addition to her leadership of the fifth edition of the Sharjah Children's Biennial, which supported the concept of giving among talented children by allocating the proceeds of artistic works to refugee children, her charitable endeavors extended to supporting cancer patients and their families. She chaired the Supreme Committee organizing the Pink Caravan's march, which provides free mobile cancer screenings to all segments of UAE society. More than 65,000 individuals have benefited from these screenings, leading to the detection of 75 cases since the march's inception. Reem bint Karam's role in promoting the vision of the ruler of Sharjah is also evident in her efforts to provide social, economic, and professional growth opportunities for Emirati women through her management of the NAMA Women Advancement Establishment and the Contemporary Crafts Council. These initiatives offer economic and social support to over 500 Emirati craftswomen by facilitating their access to sustainable markets through various capacity-building programs, artisan exchange programs, documentation of traditional crafts, and conducting scientific studies and research for craft development and sustainability.


Integrated Efforts to Protect Children

Hanadi Alyafei has led the Child Safety Department under the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, working towards the department's vision of caring for and protecting children. She played a pivotal role in establishing "Kanaf House for the Child," a specialized center aimed at providing support and care for children requiring special protection. Leading a dedicated team, she established partnerships with governmental and non-governmental organizations to ensure the provision of comprehensive and integrated services in the center, creating a safe and supportive environment for children facing challenging circumstances in their lives. She provided psychological and social support services, including individual and group therapy sessions, as well as support for the families of children. Through continuous assessment and monitoring, Hanadi Alyafei ensured that Kanaf House truly reflects the deep concern of the consort of the Ruler of Sharjah in providing the best possible care for children, demonstrating her profound commitment to their protection and raising societal awareness about this crucial issue.

Speaking of Kanaf House, Afaf Ibrahim Al Marri, the Director of the Department of Social Services in Sharjah, played a pivotal role in establishing this pioneering project in the region. The department serves as a key partner in child protection in the emirate, starting from the establishment of a 24/7 hotline for reporting child abuse to providing shelter and referring cases to Kanaf House to contribute to the child's therapeutic plan and legal representation during judicial proceedings. Al Marri ensured that the department's role extends beyond mere cooperation with institutions associated with the consort of the Ruler of Sharjah, aiming to enhance this valuable partnership and further support the emirate's vision of preserving the dignity of the child and providing a safe environment for their upbringing.