“Mama Shamsa”: The UAE is a source of human inspiration

“The Emirates is a source of humanitarian inspiration.” With these words, the famous community activist in Kenya, Shamsa Abubakar Fadel, summarized her love and vision for the Emirates, during her recent visit to the country prior to the celebration of the “53rd Union Day,” noting that the humanitarian efforts made by the Emirates are a standard for solidarity and compassion on all sides. World level.

Shamsa Abu Bakr Fadel, known as “Mama Shamsa,” embodies a legacy left by the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, which resonates throughout the world.

Mama Shamsa, winner of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity for the year 2023, told Emirates Al-Youm, “The spirit of the Emirates lives in the hearts of people around the world, and reminds us all of the value of actions that spread love and compassion,” noting that initiatives such as the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity Humanity, showing the world what can be achieved through medical intentions and the desire to spread goodness everywhere.

“Mama Shamsa” indicated that her experience as a community activist began with the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, in one of Sheikh Zayed’s schools in Kenya, where she witnessed first-hand the late leader’s generosity in supporting these institutions that provide education, health care, and a supportive environment. For orphans.

In this context, Mama Shamsa stressed that these schools, which give dignity and hope to children, have had a profound impact on her commitment to contributing to providing support to communities in need.

She added that the solid values ​​instilled by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, represented by humanity and hope, left a profound impact on her life. Thanks to the support provided by the Zayed Prize for Human Fraternity, “Mama Shamsa” launched in 2023 the “Zayed Initiative.” To support small agricultural projects, to empower women and youth in Kenya, stressing that more than 7,000 people have benefited from it in launching their small projects.

She said: “You do not have to visit the Emirates to learn about the humanitarian legacy and noble values ​​of Sheikh Zayed. That is why I chose to name the scholarship program after him. Sheikh Zayed is a well-known symbol throughout Africa, and his humanitarian legacy is present and tangible in various parts of the world.”

She added that the global humanitarian efforts made by the UAE set a standard for global human solidarity, and stressed that “if more countries adopt this spirit, we can confront the challenges facing all of humanity.”

Mama Shamsa focuses its humanitarian efforts mainly on women and youth, to save them from crime and extremism, believing that they are the basic foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty and building a more stable future.

She stated that in 2014 she founded a community organization, aiming to support women and youth in Kenya, which earned her widespread recognition, which led to her being elected as the first woman to chair the Peace and Security Committee in Nyali Sub-County, and in 2019 she led a comprehensive reform campaign, aimed at rehabilitating these young people. Pointing out that the campaign was able to make a radical change in the lives of more than 10,000 young people who decided to leave the world of crime, as they received training support and psychological and legal consultations to reintegrate them into society.

Mama Shamsa concluded her speech by saying: “The UAE offers the world a unique model of humanitarian and charitable giving, and helping societies advance and achieve development, so that the Sheikh Zayed School of Humanitarian Work has become a renewed source of inspiration for the entire world.”