SSSD launches "Our Heaven is with You" to bring joy to seniors

The project targets elderly people aged 60 and above who benefit from the department’s services. It is considered one of the department’s key social initiatives, coinciding with the International Day of Older Persons.

The initiative includes distributing gifts to the elderly at their homes, alongside social and recreational programmes aimed at enhancing their psychological and social well-being and restoring their sense of belonging and active role in society.

Integration and institutional partnerships

Hessa Al Hammadi, Director of the Community Cohesion Department at SSSD, expressed her pride in the launch of the new edition, affirming that it embodies Sharjah’s humanitarian vision in caring for the elderly and appreciating their contributions.

She explained that the initiative is not limited to presenting gifts but also reflects society’s gratitude by reminding the elderly of their enduring value, visiting them at their homes, and engaging in direct face-to-face communication.

Al Hammadi stressed that reinforcing values of solidarity and cohesion across generations strengthens and sustains society, calling on all entities and individuals to contribute to this noble humanitarian initiative.

She further noted that "Our Heaven is with You" also extends to health, psychological, and social support, as well as efforts to integrate elderly people into society by involving them in activities and competitions that enhance mobility, occupy their spare time, and positively affect their overall health.

She added that all relevant SSSD departments contribute to implementing the project, while institutions across various sectors can support it through financial or in-kind sponsorships directly channelled towards programmes that improve the quality of life for the elderly. The department also enables institutions and individuals to participate through multiple channels, including donations via text messages, bank transfers through Sharjah Islamic Bank, or by engaging with SSSD’s social media platforms.

The initiative reflects Sharjah’s vision of sustainable community development and highlights the importance of engaging the elderly in public life as a deeply rooted human and cultural value deserving of support and appreciation at all stages of life.

What’s new in the 2025 edition?

The 2025 edition of "Our Heaven is with You" introduces fresh concepts and wider outreach, covering all SSSD branches in Sharjah and extending promotional activities to other emirates. Stronger partnerships with government bodies, private institutions, and charities enabled this expansion, with the aim of boosting community participation and attracting more contributors.

This year’s edition features smart technologies to facilitate contributions and documentation, including mobile payment devices at promotional points and QR codes on the initiative’s bags to record community participation instantly and accurately.

Additionally, a range of volunteering opportunities has been introduced, allowing people of all ages to take part in various stages of the project, from promotion and preparation of bags to accompanying field teams and distributing gifts to elderly beneficiaries in their homes.

One of the key additions is a mobile promotional corner equipped with informational materials and dedicated bags for contributions, along with mobile electronic payment services at institutions and shopping centres to ensure the initiative’s message reaches the widest possible audience. Digital channels have also been enhanced to facilitate online contributions through the department’s platforms.

With these innovations, the 2025 edition aims to provide a more inclusive and impactful community experience, strengthening values of giving and intergenerational cohesion, and placing the elderly at the heart of social and humanitarian activity across the UAE.