Doha: HE Minister of Social Development and Family Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi emphasized that the Rawda Award for Excellence in Social Work represents a qualitative national milestone for consolidating the culture of institutional social work in the State of Qatar, and enhancing the status of community initiatives as an active partner in the path of national development.
According to Qatar News Agency, at the award ceremony honoring the winners on Sunday, Her Excellency said that the Amiri Decision No. 16 of 2025 establishing the Rawda Award for Excellence in Social Work is evidence of the special attention the state pays to supporting pioneering initiatives that enhance the quality of life, and enshrine the values of cooperation and solidarity, and is a certificate of appreciation for everyone who has made community service a constant approach in his journey.
Her Excellency stated that this award is not just a platform for honoring, but a national platform that monitors initiatives, celebrates achievements, and creates positive competition to achieve a real and sustainable impact on human life. She further expressed that the award celebrates those who give back, who, through their initiatives, programs, and humanitarian and charitable campaigns, strive to uplift their community, make a positive difference in the lives of those around them, and dedicate their resources and capabilities to the common good.
Addressing the award winners, Her Excellency emphasized that this honor signifies not the end of the road but rather a doubled responsibility. Their victory today is a testament to their excellence and a national commitment to continue the journey with the same determination and sincerity. She highlighted that society expects them to innovate and initiate projects with deeper impacts and wider scopes, as true giving is limitless and excellence is born from continued benefit.
CEO of the Rawda Award for Excellence in Social Work Abdulaziz Ibrahim Al Ishaq remarked that the ceremony represents the culmination of a comprehensive national process built on appreciation, encouragement, and motivation, within a rigorous evaluation and judging system ensuring transparency and credibility. He highlighted that the award aims not only to honor winners but also to celebrate the winning initiatives as outstanding models in social work, reflecting the award's objectives of cultivating a culture of social work, strengthening community values, and encouraging various groups to lead in community service in Qatar.
The ceremony honored winners in its main categories. In the individuals category, the "War and Disability: Sports and Peace" initiative by the late Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani won the "Rawda Award," while Dr. Buthaina Abdullah Abdulghani Al Abdulghani's initiative for "sponsorship and empowerment of value initiatives with community impact" won the "Shield of Excellence."
In the non-profit category, the Qatar Cancer Society's "Wayakom" initiative won the "Rawda Award," alongside the "Together" project through Education Above All Foundation Assalam Schools. Meanwhile, the "Generational Impact Maker Challenge" by Qatar Charity won the "Shield of Excellence," and the Family Consulting Center (Wifaq)'s "premarital rehabilitation program" received a "Certificate of Appreciation."
Reflecting the scale of institutional work preceding the announcement, the first session monitored 258 nominations for social initiatives, eventually narrowing down to 174 nominations after initial sorting, achieving a survival rate of 67 percent. The evaluation stages progressed through a professional path involving nomination, initial screening, file completion, and technical evaluation by 25 evaluators across categories, culminating in arbitration by 5 public figures, and final approval.
This sequence underscores the award's commitment to separating nomination, evaluation, judging, and accreditation stages, ensuring integrity, transparency, fairness, and independence in decision-making, thus enhancing public trust as a neutral national platform for honoring genuine excellence in social work.
The Rawda Award for Excellence in Social Work stands as the first national award in the field, established by Amiri Decision No. (16) of 2025, to form an institutional framework for honoring impactful and sustainable social initiatives across five main categories: individuals, families, non-profit institutions, the private sector, and the media.