Dubai: Exceptional individuals who have dedicated their lives for those with special needs were honoured with the Princess Haya Award for Special Education on Tuesday evening.
At the third edition of the award ceremony, individuals were selected from 169 applicants from across the UAE and the Gulf region.
Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qutami, Minister of Education, presented the awards to the winners.
The ceremony, held under the patronage of Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, took place at Madinat Jumeirah.
"The award embraces the essence of humanity, and emphasises the importance of service — from one person to another," Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Health said, when he delivered the opening speech.
"Those with special needs challenge us all to be better..., to rise to the challenge of unselfish service and to truly care for others."
The awards recognised excellence in four main categories: Specialist Excellence, Corporate Social Responsibility Excellence, Family Excellence and Institutional Excellence.
Challenge
Hana Awad Bakhit, whose family won the award for outstanding special needs family said that often people do not understand the amount of work involved when there is a family member with special needs.
One of her three children was diagnosed with autism and she has been part of the Dubai Autism Centre ever since.
"The award offers motivation to excel and to continue what I am doing," said Sara Bake, who won the outstanding volunteer award for working with the Dubai Autism Centre.
The Princess Haya Award for Special Education was launched in November 2008 as the first initiative of its kind in the region.
Mohammad Al Emadi, Head of the Executive Committee, said that the initiative aims to encourage people, working with individuals with special needs, to excel and set higher service standards in all fields of special education
He said that the quality of applications received this year had significantly improved from previous years. However, he said no winners were picked for some categories because the nominees did not qualify for awards.
