NAMA highlights achievements of of Emirati women

Dubai / Emirates Business

The spirit of giving across different generations and pillars was celebrated at the NAMA Women Advancement Establishment (NAMA)’s Ramadan gathering, which was held under the theme ‘The good begins and ends with you’ at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre in Sharjah.
Grandmothers, mothers and daughters took part in the event, which paid tribute to the perseverance of Emirati women over the years in pushing the boundaries of what women can achieve.
More than 200 female participants attended the event organised by NAMA Women Advancement Establishment, a Sharjah-based women’s advancement organisation, which shed light on women’s achievements and experiences in the field of business, leadership and volunteer work, through a session whose speakers have utilised their talents to give back to the community, the business or to oneself.
Among the influential women pioneers participating at the events panel discussion, titled “The Art of Giving”, were Dr. Norah Al Midfa, the first Emirati woman to earn a PhD degree from abroad and the first Emirati principal of Al Zahra School; Aisha Al Midfa, one of the founding members of the UAE’s first women’s association “Women’s Union Association – Sharjah’ and its former director in the 1980s; and Alyazia Al Suwaidi, UAE National Basketball team player and athlete.
Other prominent women attending included Fatima Al Moghani, former member of the Advisory Council of Sharjah and first elected Chairperson of the Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) from 2007-2009; Marwa Al Naqbi, Pharmacist at Khorfakkan Hospital – Ministry of Health; and Shahrazad Al Ansaari, volunteering member of the UAE Girl Guides Association.
The speakers hailed the UAE’s internationally recognised reputation for humanitarianism, philanthropy and selflessness, which was always a priority for the UAE’s founding fathers, and one of the cores values of the Emirati culture.
Speaking at the event, Reem BinKaram, Director of NAMA, stressed the importance of giving as a higher moral value that enriches people’s intellect, purifies the soul and cultivates positivity. She noted that kind-hearted people appreciate the value of giving to others without expecting anything in return, with generosity bringing happiness to the giver as well as the receiver.
“Our gathering today is dedicated to highlighting women’s achievements, which were art of the nation’s development, and and undoubtedly involved selflessness and generosity on their part. Some of you have made outstanding efforts to attain the highest scientific ranks and professional positions, while others have devoted their efforts to supporting their families and serving their communities. Others still have excelled in launching and managing successful entrepreneurial enterprises that are part of the lifeblood of our economy,” said BinKaram.
“Whatever channel for giving you have chosen, you are ultimately giving to the nation. This is consistent with the goals of NAMA, which has a mission to activate the role of women in building communities and nations, whether in the UAE or in other countries across the world,” she added.

“At NAMA, we strive to achieve the vision of our generous patron, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment, which is to shift from the phase of ensuring women’s equality to that of advancing and elevating their role in all aspects of society; social, professional and economical,” she continued.
A short documentary illustrating a number of women’s organisations founded and operated in Sharjah since the 1950s was shown during the gathering, followed by a panel discussion highlighting the art of giving.
Moderated by Salha Ghabish, Cultural Adviser at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, the panel focused on the different forms of giving such as giving to society, to oneself and to other, and touched upon the various forms of giving – whether financial or through time and effort.
It also highlighted the importance of role models to encourage and motivate others to follow suit.
Dr. Norah Al Midfa spoke about the ‘art of giving’ through her experience in academia, while Aisha Al Midfa talked about her involvement in women’s development and referred to the considerable support given by the UAE’s leadership to Emirati women.
Alyazyia Al Suwaidi, UAE National Basketball team’s player and Aisha Al Midfa’s granddaughter, revealed the encouragement she received from her grandmother to enter the sports arena and become an inspiration for girls seeking to become professional sportswomen.
Fatima Al Moghani discussed the beginning of her career in the private sector and her belief in the importance of preserving the national and cultural heritage. She also spoke of her time as the director of SBWC and how she supported business women and female entrepreneurs in the emirate.
Marwa Al Naqbi, Pharmacist and Al Moghani’s daughter, drew attention to the art of giving at work and highlighted her experience in pursuing higher education.
She spoke about how she had successfully overcome the difficulties she had faced to earn her degree, and how she was the only Emirati woman in her university in this sector.

Shahrazad Al Ansaari, who is a volunteer with the UAE Girls Guides Association and works with the cultural office at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, shed light on her role in the guiding and scouting movement and how volunteering can develop women’s personalities and help them gain valuable new life experiences.