Preparations for Voluntary Work Award’s 8th edition begin

Manama, June 23 (BNA): Preparations for the eighth edition of the HH Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa’s Award for Voluntary Work, to be organised by the Good Word Society in conjunction with the Arab Voluntary Work Day 2018 in September, have already started. The launch of the new edition follows the remarkable success of the award during the previous sessions, and the holding of the award-distribution ceremony of the previous edition at the headquarters of the Arab League’s Secretariat-General. Good Word Society’s Board Chairman, Hassan Bu Hazza’a, while commenting on the new edition’s launch, said that the award has become one of the most important voluntary work awards at the GCC and Arab levels thanks to unlimited support of HH Shaikh Isa bin Ali, the Honorary President of the Good Word Society, noting that the award has made a quantum leap in the field of voluntary work. He pointed out that the award’s organising committee had, following the distribution of the seventh edition, held a number of preparatory meetings, and decided to hold this year’s award-distribution ceremony in Bahrain to confirm the kingdom’s effective role in promoting voluntary work, as well as to encourage Bahrainis to submit more voluntary projects. He explained that this year’s edition will also honour Arab voluntary work pioneers, as well as the best voluntary work projects in Bahrain (which is held for the fourth consecutive year), in line with the award’s officials’ recognition of the importance of availing of the regional and Arab experience in fostering volunteerism concepts among the members of the Bahraini society. Regarding the Arab section of the award, Bu Hazza’a said that the organising committee is currently studying the participating projects it has received from various Arab countries, in cooperation with the Arab Federation for Voluntary Work, to designate the winners. Concerning the fourth edition of the Best Voluntary Work in Bahrain, he stressed that it will focus on encouraging Bahraini youth to submit more innovative projects, as part of the award’s goals of activating youngsters’ role in addressing the problems faced by the Bahraini society. Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa’s recent winning of the “Watani Al Emarat” Award in tribute for his creative initiatives in voluntary and humanitarian work which left a major positive impact on the local and Arab community, proves the positive impact of his award for voluntary work across Bahrain and the Arab world, he said. It is worth noting that 15 Arab voluntary work figures from 10 countries were honoured during last year’s edition, held at the Arab League headquarters, in the presence of Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit.