Registration for the Dh1 million Arab Hope Maker prize was officially opened by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
On Monday, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launched the third round of the award, dedicated to promoting people in the Arab world who spread hope, and encompass values of giving and positivity, by dedicating their lives to helping others.
Written in the form of a job advertisement, Sheikh Mohammed took to Twitter to call for "creators of hope in our Arab world".
كل واحد منا فيه بذرة خير ... وكل واحد فينا قادر على العطاء .. وكل إنسان له موهبة يمكن تسخيرها لخدمة مجتمعه .. والنهر يبدأ بقطرات .. واستئناف الحضارة يحتاج لعطاء ومبادرات .. وصناعة الأمل في منطقتنا تعادل صناعة الحياة .. نحن بحاجة لكل قصة أمل #صناع_الأمل https://t.co/0sXy4Bg7e1 pic.twitter.com/Rix3Fu2lHa
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) March 18, 2019
He said those who should apply are people, teams and entities who have vowed to help people in the fields of health, education, philanthropy, culture, environment or others. He described such applicants as "credit for us all in the bank of goodness and hope".
"Every one of us has a seed of good within them and every one of us is capable of giving. Each person has a talent that can be harnessed to serve the community," he said, posting a link to the Arab Hope Makers website where applications can be submitted.
The winner will be announced in May and receive Dh1m in recognition of their efforts, and as financial support to develop and expand their humanitarian projects to help more people.
The award, launched by Sheikh Mohammed three years ago, celebrates members of a community in the Arab world who are combatting social, economic, health and psychological issues with humanitarian initiatives, empowering marginalised groups in society, alleviating the suffering of the poor and sick, and investing in the neglected segments of a particular group.
Last year's winner, from a record 87,000 submissions, was Mahmoud Wahid, chairman of Together to Save a Human, who provides homeless people in Egypt with food and medical care.
The Egyptian, 35, first began working with the homeless after spotting an elderly man living on the street. Recognising that there was no authority in his home country to help the homeless, he set up an association to help provide them with shelter and health care.
During the award ceremony in Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed announced the formation of an Arab Hope Makers Academy, with a budget of Dh50m. Though only one winner is announced each year so far, Sheikh Mohammed has awarded each of the five finalists Dh1m to invest in their work and continue their philanthropic efforts.
In 2017, the inaugural year of the award, Nawal Al Soufi was announced the winner for her work to save refugees from sinking boats in the Mediterranean.
