Bahrain Launches Fourth Edition of Shaikha Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa Award

Manama, September 13 (BNA) – The Shaikha Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa Award for Youth Voluntary Work continues to stand as a distinguished national initiative honoring outstanding youth-led voluntary projects in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The award reflects national directives and the vision of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) in empowering young people and enhancing their role in the Kingdom’s comprehensive development, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain.

The award carries significant symbolic value as it is named after the late Shaikha Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa, a pioneering national figure known for her extensive philanthropic and humanitarian efforts. Established by Royal Order in 2011, the award recognizes her lifelong dedication to charitable causes across multiple fields.

The SCW was entrusted with overseeing the initiative, focusing on areas that were close to Shaikha Hessa’s values, particularly promoting volunteerism among Bahraini youth. The award’s mission is to encourage creativity in service of society, strengthen the values of solidarity and cooperation within Bahraini culture, and instill a sense of responsibility and social contribution among young people.

The award aims to spread the culture of volunteer work, highlight its significance as a national and humanitarian duty, and enhance the role of individuals and groups in delivering sustainable, innovative community-driven projects. Over its past editions, the award has attracted pioneering youth initiatives that demonstrated their ability to drive positive change and amplify community impact.

The first edition, held in 2014, honored Shaikha Hala bint Ali Al Khalifa with first place in the individual category for her project “Omnia for Child Care,” followed by Mohammed Ahmed Al Murabati for “Bahrain Events.” In the group category, “Volunteer Gathering Point,” led by Nouf Ahmed Al Nuaar, won first place, while “Omnia Child Campaign,” headed by Manal Ali Al Awadhi, secured second.

The second edition in 2018 recognized Salman Mohammed Al Sindi, who won first place in the individual category for his project “Voluntary Work Development Center,” while Hamoud Jassim Abdullah came second with “My Return to Life.” In the group category, “Your Home is Our Home,” led by Noora Ali Mohammed, secured first place, followed by “Be Prepared,” headed by Fahad Mohammed Yaqoot, focusing on first aid training.

The third edition, held in 2025, awarded Zainab Saeed Al Jammari’s project “Lisan Arabi” first place in the individual category, while Hanan Abdullah Hassan’s project “Capacity Building for Disability Workers” came second. In the group category, the “Hypo Youth” program, led by Faisal Isa Al Khayyat, won first place, followed by “Keys,” led by Yaqoub Yousif Al Najem.

Following the success of previous editions, the SCW has announced the launch of the fourth edition of the award. Submissions are now open, with winners to be announced after the evaluation process.

The judging panel for this edition is chaired by Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, SCW member, and includes Abdulkarim Abdulhamid Al Meer, Director of Events and Programs at the Ministry of Youth Affairs; Amina Ibrahim Al Jassim, Director of NGOs at the Ministry of Social Development; Dr. Israa Ahmed Wali, Head of Information Systems and Acting Director of the Business Incubator Center at the University of Bahrain; and Amira Mahmoud Mohammed, Chairwoman of the Youth Pioneers Society.

Generous cash prizes will be awarded: BD 10,000 and BD 6,000 for the first and second place winners in the individual category, and BD 14,000 and BD 10,000 for the first and second place winners in the group category. Eligible applicants must be Bahraini citizens between 18 and 35 years old, with projects registered under a legally recognized civil society or state institution.

The launch of the fourth edition underscores the award’s role as a leading national platform celebrating youth innovation in volunteerism, strengthening the culture of giving, and aligning young people’s energies with the needs of Bahraini society, thereby contributing to sustainable development.