Jamila bint Muhammad Al Qasimi Receives an Honorary
On Wednesday, May 18, 2022, Her Excellency Sheikha Jamila bint Muhammad Al Qasimi, President of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from California State University - Chico, USA. This certificate is in appreciation of her contribution and great role in improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities. Sheikha Jamila has been working hard to include, advocate, empower, educate and integrate persons with special needs in every area of life.
Dr. Gayle Hutchinson, President of California State University, Chico, highly valued all that Her Excellency Sheikha Jamila had done for forty years. Sheikha Jamila continues to do so much to address the issues of persons with disabilities and their parents, defend their rights, and raise awareness of them in the community.
She said, “Since taking over the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services to this day, Sheikha Jamila has worked as a disability rights leader with passion and perseverance to proclaim the rights of people with disabilities. Sheikha Jamila has kept pace with the best and latest international practices in serving them. She was keen to provide a better life for them and their parents”.
Dr. Gayle expressed is so proud that Her Excellency Sheikha Jamila is a graduate of California State University - Chico. She also expressed her great happiness for presenting her with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, making her the 22nd person to be awarded an honorary doctorate by the university throughout its 135-year history.
For her part, Her Excellency Sheikha Jamila bint Muhammad Al Qasimi directed her sincerest thanks to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Honorary President of SCHS, for his unlimited and permanent support. This support is the reason for reaching this distinguished and international position, whether for her personally or for SCHS.
She said, “His Highness, the Ruler of Sharjah, wanted SCHS to be an Arab and international starting point that would provide services in all fields to people with disabilities anywhere on this earth”.
”My motivation has always been to empower individuals with disabilities and ensure they have a better life, where they are treated with dignity and respect. We support them with education and assistive technologies and innovative therapies as they grow their skill and confidence and transform their future”, added Sheikha Jamila.
She said also, “Some of the brightest moments of my career has been witnessing a smile on a child’s face or a tear in a mother’s eye when she sees her child make his or her first steps, or an adult getting a driver’s license or starting to study at a university.”
She explained that at Sharjah City for humanitarian services, she and her team are committed to changing culture and attitudes about individuals with disabilities and raise awareness of their issues and rights.
In conclusion, the President of SCHS thanked Dr. Gayle Hutchinson, President of California State University, Chico, and the members of the Board of Trustees for their confidence in awarding her an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. She wished them continued progress and prosperity.