Asala Award: honouring elderly volunteers in Sharjah

September 15, 2025 / 8:09 PM

Sharjah 24: As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting a culture of giving and encouraging the elderly to continue their journey of giving and pass on their life experiences to future generations, the Sharjah Award for Voluntary Work (SAVW) honoured the winners of the "Asala Award for Best Volunteer Participation" during its recently held 22nd edition. This award recognises the contributions of elderly people and their outstanding contributions in various areas of volunteer work.

During the main ceremony of SAVW, held last June under the patronage and attendance of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, senior citizens who achieved remarkable numbers in volunteer work hours were honoured, setting an example for future generations in continuous giving and community service.

Best volunteers for best results

Halima Ahmed Saif Al Naqbi won first place after completing 86 volunteer hours, followed by Latifa Mahmoud Mohammed in second place with 26 volunteer hours. Mira Hamad Saif Al Ketbi came in third place with a total of 25 volunteer hours, after a careful evaluation of entries according to specific criteria set by the organising committee.

The award requires that volunteer work be diverse and regular throughout the year, and that these contributions be documented with official certificates issued by approved platforms. Letters of recommendation or evaluation forms from participating institutions are also required. Submitting documentary photos is an additional option to enhance the participant's profile.

Regarding the evaluation criteria, the committee allocated 80% of the final score to the number of volunteer hours and participation, while 20% was allocated to the diversity of activities and the level of creativity in their implementation. This ensures the selection of the most committed, diverse, and influential winners in the volunteer work journey during the year.

Transferring authentic values and experiences

Suad Al Shamsi, Director of SAVW, emphasised that the choice of the name "Authenticity" for the award clearly reflects the status of older people in society and their pivotal role in transmitting authentic values and experiences to future generations. She noted that the award aims to strengthening intergenerational communication, where older people and younger people exchange experiences and skills, especially in light of technological developments that contribute to building a cohesive and integrated society.

Al Shamsi explained that honouring elderly volunteers represents a message of loyalty and gratitude for their ongoing contributions, and serves as an incentive for further initiatives that promote the culture of volunteering and support the goals of social development in the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE in general. She hoped to attract more elderly parents during the 23rd edition next year.