«التنمية الأسرية» تنظم الملتقى السادس لكبار المواطنين والمقيمين

Al Ain / WAM
The Family Development Foundation organized the sixth forum for senior citizens and residents in 2023 in conjunction with the International Day of Senior Citizens, at the Foundation’s Jebel Hafeet Community Center in Al Ain, under the generous patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates,” President of the General Women’s Union and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood. She is the Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation.
The forum, which was held under the slogan “Towards sustainable social well-being for senior citizens and residents,” came within the framework of the Foundation’s keenness to cooperate with its strategic partners and its interest in this important group in society, based on its strategy and within its goals and competencies aimed at providing the necessary services to them, in all its forms and forms, and working to Attracting them to live a stable social life, given the high human value they represent in the country.
The forum was attended by Maryam Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Director General of the Family Development Foundation, and Salama Ajlan Al Amimi, Director General of the Community Contributions Authority “Ma’an”, along with a number of strategic partners, employees of the Family Development Foundation and senior citizens and residents.
Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi, praised, in a video speech, the activities of the Sixth Forum for Senior Citizens and Residents 2023, which reflects the keenness of Her Highness the “Mother of the Emirates” to care for and support the elderly group in society, out of belief in their role in enhancing family cohesion and community cohesion. .
Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili said: “In the department, in cooperation with entities in the social sector, we are keen to enhance the quality of life of senior citizens and residents in Abu Dhabi, as they are the basic pillar of society, and they have a major role in building it, enhancing its cohesion, and achieving development and prosperity,” noting the great support from the leadership. Al-Rashida aims to provide them with the most decent means of living, enabling them to live at a decent standard in society.
He pointed out that the Department of Community Development believes in the role of all individuals in advancing the process of comprehensive and sustainable development, and the prosperous scene experienced by the society of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, which is based on family cohesion and the interconnectedness of communities, and from here comes the role of the social sector in establishing a social system characterized by flexibility and effectiveness, and creating an educated generation. He is educated, healthy, and aware of his responsibilities, rights, and duties towards his community and country.
For his part, Ali Salem Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Family Development Foundation, in his speech delivered on his behalf during the forum, Maryam Mohammed Al Rumaithi, conveyed the greetings of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates.”
Ali Salem Al Kaabi said: “On this occasion, we remember the efforts of the UAE, which gives senior citizens and residents the utmost importance, and the great efforts it makes in order to serve them and achieve happiness, quality of life and family stability for them, as they are a fundamental engine for sustainable development, which requires us to work hard and harness them.” The energies and capabilities to achieve their ambitions and meet their requirements in accordance with the directives of the wise leadership, headed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, and the aspirations of the wise government that puts the citizen at the forefront of its concerns and priorities.
He added: “We are responsible for the file of senior citizens and residents in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. We confirm through the forum the major role played by the Family Development Foundation, which works in accordance with the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, aiming to provide various services and proactive initiatives that enhance the quality of life of seniors.” Citizens and residents, responding to their requirements and needs, and always striving to increase proactive and digital services for this important segment of society, in addition to adopting many initiatives and developing programs and services that suit them, in gratitude for their efforts and in appreciation of the importance of their role and position in society.
Al Kaabi explained: “As you know, the Emirates is distinguished by its community members’ preservation of the positive social heritage that enhances the values ​​of family cohesion, encourages respect for senior citizens, caring for them within their families in their social environment, supporting their social participation, and investing their energies, and in light of this care the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is witnessing “The number of senior citizens and residents is increasing and growing, which comes as a natural result of the remarkable development in the field of health care, as the growth rate of the elderly in the emirate has become noticeably increasing.”
Al Kaabi stressed: “The country, like other countries in the world around us, has witnessed radical changes that have affected the way of life and living and employment patterns at the family and community levels. “This requires institutions that provide social services to begin strategic planning for the coming years, taking into account these changes, and the obligations they may entail towards senior citizens to enhance their quality of life.”
Maryam Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Director General of the Family Development Foundation, honored the category that most attends the Foundation’s programs and services, which is what she is constantly keen to do to encourage them to participate and motivate them to attend services that reflect positively and benefit them, by communicating with them, getting to know them, meeting their needs, and providing A decent life that supports their stability, follows up on their affairs, and provides all services that enhance their stability in all its centers in Abu Dhabi and the Al Ain and Al Dhafra regions, in appreciation of their generosity and extended experience in serving society.
The forum included the Family Development Foundation signing a cooperation agreement with the Community Contributions Authority “Together” and MIC Management Services – Make, with the aim of improving the quality of life of senior citizens and residents in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and enhancing their integration into society through developing their skills and active participation in social activities represented in crafts. Handicrafts for senior citizens, which provides an exploratory journey into new skills and interests for program participants to enable them to develop and encourage the pursuit and development of acquired skills, to reach a sustainable community of master craftsmen.
The agreement was signed by Maryam Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Director General of the Family Development Foundation, Salama Ajlan Al Amimi, Director General of the Community Contributions Authority “Ma’an”, and Talal Al Ansari, General Manager of MEC Management Services Company – Make.
Maryam Mohammed Al Rumaithi said: “This agreement comes within the framework of the Family Development Foundation’s efforts aimed at enhancing the quality of life of senior citizens and similar citizens, based on the Foundation’s vision, mission and areas of interest represented in supporting this important group in society, to ensure the provision of a decent life.” safe and stable for them.”
She explained that the agreement aims to train senior citizens according to their needs, develop their craft skills, empower them and develop their talents until the evaluation stage.
Al Rumaithi confirmed that the agreement comes as a translation of the vision and directives of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates”, which aims to provide all aspects of social, health, psychological and recreational care, in a way that ensures the integration of this important segment into society and provides them with a safe and stable life, noting the Foundation’s constant keenness to Alleviating the burdens on senior citizens by facilitating their access to services, and providing all aspects of integrated social care to this important group in society, with the aim of improving their quality of life and enabling them to participate and engage in society as they are the blessing of the home and an integral part of the fabric of Emirati society.
She added that the Foundation seeks to build partnerships that will contribute to achieving family stability in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, which requires integrating roles and achieving the requirements of the Abu Dhabi government, to reach social development that guarantees a decent life for senior citizens and residents.
Emphasizing that the Foundation has played a proactive role and strenuous efforts in implementing services and adopting initiatives and programs that enhance the quality of life of senior citizens and the like, it has worked to provide aspects of integrated care to all segments of society to improve their quality of life and ensure their active and continuous participation within the societal fabric in Abu Dhabi.
For her part, Salama Ajlan Al Amimi stressed the authority’s keenness to establish partnerships that achieve a tangible positive impact in addressing social priorities in Abu Dhabi society. Explaining that signing the cooperation agreement with MIC for Administrative Services reflects the Authority’s commitment to contributing to providing a decent standard of living for those most in need in society and in cooperation with our partners in the Family Development Foundation.
She added: “We focus on supporting senior citizens and residents, enhancing their lifestyle and achieving integration into society as a whole, and we look forward to activating this partnership and achieving good results.”
For his part, Talal Al Ansari said: “We are pleased to cooperate with the Community Contributions Authority “Ma’an” and the Family Development Foundation, in order to enhance the quality of life of senior citizens and residents in Abu Dhabi. We at the “Make” Center are committed to establishing a vibrant community that includes creative makers.”
He added: “This cooperation would expand the scope of our influence, as we provide senior citizens and residents with a space to learn and participate in social and development activities, so that they become an integral part of the “Isnaa” community. We believe in the importance of benefiting from their experiences and creativity, and we provide them with the tools, resources, and support to unleash their creativity and develop their skills. We seek, through a group of programs and workshops, to empower them by building their confidence in the art of making, and not just by acquiring new skills, as we provide them with the knowledge and tools that “They need it to implement their ideas in carpentry, weaving, digital technology or any other creative activity.”
The Family Development Foundation also organized, within the activities of the Sixth Forum for Senior Citizens and Residents 2023, two sessions, the first of which was moderated by Dr. Fatima Abdullah Al-Hammadi, the social expert at the Family Development Foundation, which came under the title of the axis of national global policies and trends that ensure the sustainability of senior citizens’ access to their rights and enhance their quality of life. Suleiman discussed Al-Mazmi, Social Welfare Advisor at the Ministry of Community Development, discussed national policies, strategies and directions. Engineer Sheikha Al-Hosani, Executive Director of the Monitoring and Social Innovation Sector at the Department of Community Development, discussed policies, strategies and future directions to ensure the continuity of well-being and quality of life of senior citizens and residents in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Dr. Turki Hassan Al-Qahtani is a senior family supervisor in the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. The Senior Citizens’ Rights Law is a pioneering step towards fulfilling covenants.
The second session of the forum, which was moderated by Wafa Al Ali, Director of the Family Guidance and Counseling Department at the Family Development Foundation, discussed the focus of government social interventions and practices that ensure that senior citizens obtain their rights and meet their needs. Moza Ali Al Mazrouei, a social care specialist at the Family Development Foundation, discussed an integrated social services system. For senior citizens and residents to ensure their well-being and achieve their quality of life. His Excellency Ahmed Al-Mail, Director of the Department of Social Services, Department of Social Services – Sharjah, spoke about social services interventions and programs to protect the rights of senior citizens, and Reem Al Shamsi, Head of the Study and Analysis Department, Social Contracts Department – Community Contributions Authority “Together” addressed the issue. The authority’s role in supporting third sector initiatives, to ensure the protection and well-being of senior citizens and residents.