Dubai: Eleven women were honoured at the 11th International Women’s Day Excellence Awards held on Thursday. The award ceremony recognised a range of talent in the community, placing women from different cultural backgrounds in the limelight.
“The goal is to applaud the woman who does something that benefits the community – the scale doesn’t matter. Neither does her position. It isn’t a competition. Each woman is an achiever in her own right. We have chosen 11 women from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively this year.” M. G. Uma, the Managing Director of Dhwani School of Arts and Cultural Institute, the organising company, told Gulf News.
“We have awarded 602 women since the inception of the awards,” she added. Awardee Anandi Ramachandran, the Indian Director of Asiatic Printing Press, told Gulf News that she is proud of the recognition. “I have helped many through my company and extended help to orphanages and blind institutions.”
Hala Kazim, Emirati founder of coaching company Journey Through Change, told Gulf News that it is “an amazing feeling. I work with Emirati women, coaching them through experience. For instance, I organise foreign hiking trips to expose them to new cultures and equip them with life skills. I also provide them with an opportunity to leave behind their familiar life.”
The Chief Guest at the award ceremony, Emirati Fatma Kazim, was a previous recipient of the award. The retired Chairperson of the Dubai International Airport told Gulf News that the gesture of this nature is “in itself rewarding. I won the award in 2007. To recognise woman for their contribution is special. The company that organises it is one of its kind, bridging the Indian community and the international community in the UAE.”
Fatma said that in her case she fought gender stereotype. “The Airline Operating Committee never had a female chairperson. I was a team leader for all the leading airlines. Despite the fact that I come from a traditional, orthodox family, I started working at the airport – unheard of being a woman and due to the odd hours and the stress.”
