New award added to 23rd edition of SAVW

Criteria for excellence in specialised volunteering

The category requires that the volunteer work be based on a specific scientific or professional field, such as medicine, engineering, technology, law, or education, and that it be done alone or as part of a team on a well-organised project. Submissions must show that they will have a meaningful effect on the community, long-lasting results, and complete documentation, such as supporting reports and data.

SAVW's vision

Dr Jasim Al Hammadi, Secretary-General of The Sharjah Award for Voluntary Work (SAVW), said that the new category fits with SAVW's goal of opening up more ways for people to do great things and accepting all kinds of community service. He said that specialised volunteering has become one of the most powerful and long-lasting forms of contribution, providing society with high-quality professional advantages. He further said that each new edition of the award tries to change its categories to better reflect the wide range of volunteer activity and to assist Sharjah's efforts to promote scientific, professional, and innovative volunteerism.

Professionalism at the core of evaluation

Suad Al Shamsi, the Executive Director of SAVW, said that the criteria for judging "Excellence in Specialised Volunteering" are professionalism, competence, innovation, community impact, quality of execution, collaborations, and documentation. She said that the category is accessible to both individuals and groups of volunteers. Al Shamsi also said that SAVW wants to encourage professionals in sectors like medicine, engineering, law, and education to utilise their expertise to help the community, which would help build a culture of social responsibility and solidarity in the UAE.

A comprehensive overview of volunteer work

SAVW will continue accepting applications until December 31, 2025. It presently has 15 different categories that include all aspects of volunteering. These are the Role Model Volunteer Award, which honours people and families nominated by public and private groups; the Best Neighbourhood Community Volunteering Award, which helps neighbourhood councils across Sharjah; and the Excellence in Social Responsibility Award, which encourages organisations of all sizes to come up with new social initiatives.

Recognition across multiple volunteering fields

The platform also gives out the Best Provider of Volunteer Opportunities Award to the best organisations and the Outstanding Volunteer Supporter Award to the people who help the most. Other awards are for the best volunteer initiative, the volunteer hours record award, the university student participation award, the school volunteer award, and the Asala Award, which honours seniors who have made remarkable achievements. The Himmah Award celebrates volunteers with disabilities, and the Best Civil Society Organisation, Best Volunteer Team, and Best Young Team Leader awards recognise group success, leadership, and good community effects. The new Excellence in Specialised Volunteering Award honours people or groups that use their professional skills to make a lasting difference in the community.

How to participate

People who want to take part in the 23rd edition can sign up on SAVW's official website. The organisation continues to reward people and organisations that have outstanding achievements in all areas of volunteer work.