Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed launches Hope Maker award

CAIRO: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced on his Twitter account the return of the Arab Hope Makers award.

The initiative, launched for the second year in a row, entitles participants from the Arab world to win the position of a “Hope Maker,” a job post with a salary of $272,000, or one million dirhams.

The award is dedicated to honoring people who spread hope and encompass the values of giving and optimism, by dedicating their lives to helping others. It is meant to help the winner continue their efforts.

Sheikh Mohammed announced on Saturday the second round of the award, by tweeting: “The Arab Hope Makers are also the makers of our civilization and our future. Every person has the spirit of giving inside them, and the ability to contribute positively to our society; this is our Arab world’s civilizational mission.”

“There are thousands of people who work silently and tirelessly to help others — these are the true heroes who deserve to be honored. We will take these people’s extraordinary stories, and continue to fight despair and pessimism with their spirit of positive change.”

Those with humanitarian, volunteer experience or work on community-based projects, anywhere in the Arab world, are eligible to apply to become the next Arab Hope Maker. Their age doesn’t matter, applicants must perfect the language of giving, both spoken and written.

Nawal Al Soufi from Morocco was named the Arab ‘Hope Maker’ in last year’s edition, for saving the lives of 200,000 refugees.