HER HIGHNESS SHEIKHA JAMEELA ACQUIRES AN HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM THE HASHEMITE UNIVERSITY
Her Highness Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director General of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), said that His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has put his trust in her since the moment he decided to let her manage SCHS. This prestigious institute, which due to his financial and moral support, parental guidance, and insightful vision, was able to accomplish so much, offer more services, and become as His Highness wanted it.
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi said, “Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services does not only work in Sharjah or United Arab Emirates or the gulf region. It offers its services to persons with disabilities and all people in any place on the planet”.
Her Highness Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi gave this statement during a special ceremony held on Tuesday, December 24, 2019, by the Hashemite University in the kingdom of Jordan to grant her an Honorary Doctorate in Special Education.
Dr. Kamal Al-Din Bani Hani, President of the Hashemite University, Dr. Ali Al-Shawaheen, Advisor to Prince Maraad Bin Raad, President of the Supreme Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Jordan, and His Excellency Khaled Ali Al-Nuaimi, Acting Director of UAE Embassy in Jordan, attended the ceremony. Mrs. Mona Abdul Kareem, Director of SCHS and Dr. Hashem Taqi, Director of Inclusion International for the Middle East and North Africa, were present as well.
A Loyal Working Team
Her Highness Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi has pointed out that obtaining a high academic degree was a dream and a main goal for her. However, other projects were a priority because the needs of society members were more important to her.
She expressed her gratitude and pride for accepting the Honorary Doctorate granted to her by Queen Rania College for Childhood after a collective decision from the distinguished Board of Deans of the Hashemite University. She confirmed that this university dazzled her since day one and after meeting its President Dr. Kamal Al-Din Bani Hani. This fascination was in its achievements in the field of sustainability, self-sufficiency and positive impact on the environment and society as well as being a pioneering academic institute.
“The thing that corresponds to my pride of this high degree and my happiness is that I did not seek it and did not strive to achieve it. I confess that my happiness is not because of my merit of this honor, but because this appreciation came to crown the efforts of a dedicated and serious team. This team worked over many years to provide so much to a community that deserved those services and programs for persons with disabilities via Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, and for orphans through Sharjah Social Empowerment Foundation and for those who have learning problems through Sharjah Center for Learning Difficulties” added Her Highness Sheikha Jameela.
Supportive Community and Cooperating Families
In addition to this creative team, other elements contributed to the things Her Highness has accomplished today, which included a supportive community, cooperating families, and a leadership with a clear vision. His Highness, the father, Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, was not only the role model and the guide, but he was and still is the caring father and the heart who senses the needs of his community even before citizens feel it. He, after God Almighty, has the credit for the advancement and the leading role of the United Arab Emirates in the field of offering services to persons with disabilities, their empowerment and raising community’s awareness of their issues in general.
She explained that His Highness realized the importance of developing the financial resources of SCHS to achieve the sustainability and stability of services. Therefore, he urged SCHS to establish entrepreneurial projects and encouraged institutions and individuals to take on their social responsibilities towards SCHS, in addition to government support that complements its endowment and investment efforts and projects, until it reaches a stage of self-financing that completes all other funding resources.
Unlimited Support from the Ruler of Sharjah and His Wife
Her Highness Sheikha Jameela added, “His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, were keen to provide all forms of moral and financial support to SCHS in its most important activities and most prominent works. They directed SCHS to expand the provision of services in quantity and quality, and they were supporters of opening new branches and centers for SCHS and providing advanced modern services, and establishing an integrated infrastructure to ensure the smooth flow of work and the quality of services. This support was not limited to SCHS’s work, but also extended to the issues and concerns that affect the lives of persons with disabilities in the UAE and abroad. Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher had a significant role in launching the Association for the Empowerment of Women with Disabilities. She worked through the Grand Heart Foundation in Sharjah, which she heads to establish the first secondary school for the deaf and hard of hearing as well as a residential housing in the West Bank in Qalqilya, Palestine under the name “The Big Heart Secondary School for the Deaf”, and many other aspects of support and care”.
Her Highness Sheikha Jameela mentioned in her statement the role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the role of its institutions and people in all stages of SCHS work, whether by looking at the experiences of these institutions and benefiting from it, or by attracting specialized and distinguished Jordanian cadres. In addition, there are a cooperation with relevant academic institutions such as the cooperation between Sharjah Center for Learning Difficulties and Princess Tharwat College, as well as the newly signed memorandum between Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services and the Hashemite University to develop cooperation in the academic, research, training and diagnostic fields.
Acknowledgement
Her Highness Sheikha Jameela directed her sincerest thanks to distinguished men who worked with her in SCHS and contributed to its success. She specifically mentioned Dr. Yusef Al-Qaryouti and Dr. Jamal Al-Khatib. She also thanked the President of the Hashemite University, its Board of Deans, and all those who attended the ceremony. “I hope that God bless and help everyone in serving the society and achieve common goals for a better future”, said Her Highness Sheikha Jameela.
The honoring ceremony, which Dr. Kholoud Al-Dababneh, Dean of Queen Rania College for Childhood, supervised included the play of a videotape about Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services and the services, which the Hashemite University and Queen Rania Childhood College offers to students in Special Education Classes.
In turn, the President of the Hashemite University Dr. Kamal Al-Din Bani Hani delivered a speech in which he emphasized that the Hashemite University and its cadres are proud to continue the good relationship between the giving Sharjah Emirate and Jordan by granting Her Highness Sheikha Jameela an Honorary Doctorate in Special Education. This is to appreciate Her Highness for dedicating time and efforts to defend the rights of persons with disabilities, empower, and integrate them into society.
Bani Hani praised Her Highness Sheikha Jameela management of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services and serving and empowering persons with disabilities through specific programs, plans and activities as well as providing the educational environment within a sound scientific and educational approach.
The President of the Hashemite University explained the great role of Her Highness Sheikha Jameela in developing the departments and branches of SCHS and working continuously to include, advocate, empower, and integrate persons with disabilities into society. Whereas her passion for the advancement of society led her to establish and run many institutions and launch unique initiatives at the level of the United Arab Emirates and the Arab world.
Some of her Humanitarian Works
Dr. Kamal Al-Din Bani Hani has confirmed that the Hashemite University is proud to learn that His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, The intellectual who contributed to the promotion of the spirit of love and cooperation between Arabs, is the Honorary President of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services.
The President of the Hashemite University praised Her Highness Sheikha Jameela achievements and her endeavor to develop educational services and develop the capabilities of children with disabilities by establishing several centers such as Early Intervention Center and Sharjah Foundation for Social Empowerment. She spread informative, social, and various therapeutic services as well as offering family counseling and creating work opportunities. She received the Medal of Innovation from the United Arab Emirates and the Humanitarian Action Award from the Gulf Cooperation Council States in 2014, as well as the Distinguished Graduate Award from California State University-Chico, and many others.
To conclude, Dr. Kamal Al-Din has confirmed that this is only some of the many humanitarian actions, volunteering efforts, institutional perseverance, and societal achievements of Her Highness Sheikha Jameela. Therefore, Her Highness received an Honorary Doctorate in Special Education from Queen Rania College for Childhood, with all its privileges and rights.