Sheikha Fatima reviews the “Family Development” services and its achievements in supporting senior citizens

Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates”, President of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, reviewed the services and programs of the Family Development Foundation, within the framework of Her Highness’s constant keenness to follow up on the efforts of supporting senior citizens and enhancing their quality of life alongside all members of the family and society.

This came during Her Highness’s visit to the main headquarters of the Family Development Foundation, in confirmation of the pivotal position that the family has in Her Highness’s vision, and as an extension of her continued support for programs and initiatives aimed at empowering senior citizens, appreciating their giving, and enhancing their active role in society, in a way that contributes to consolidating the values of family cohesion and solidarity, and achieving community stability and quality of life. Her Highness was received by His Excellency Maryam Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Director General of the Family Development Foundation, and Her Excellency Maryam Muslim. Al Mazroui, Director of the Community Service Department at the Foundation, Her Excellency Wafa Al Ali, Director of the Family Development Department at the Foundation, and a number of officials.

During the visit, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates,” was briefed on the programs and initiatives implemented by the Family Development Foundation in supporting senior citizens, in accordance with the decision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, to amend the text of Law No. (11) of 2006 regarding Article 5, based on Law No. (12) of 2024 regarding the powers of the Family Development Foundation, which supports the Foundation’s efforts to renew Its commitment to providing social services to the family, conducting studies and research related to family affairs and senior citizens, providing full and comprehensive care for them, developing services provided to the family in its various categories, and its pivotal role in establishing community cohesion and quality of life, and improving the family work system in a way that keeps pace with the aspirations of society and enhances the process of sustainable development.

Her Highness was briefed on the institutional transformation project, which aims to enhance the efficiency and operational flexibility of the Family Development Foundation, and support its ability to provide more effective services that meet the needs of the family and society, in light of the amendment to the Foundation’s specializations, by evaluating the current situation to extract strengths and challenges, updating the strategy to keep pace with the new role and future aspirations, and designing an operational model that enhances efficiency and organizational sustainability.

Her Highness praised the strategy of the Family Development Foundation, which during the next five years is based on three main priorities, the first of which is achieving an integrated quality of life for senior citizens by enabling them to be independent, and building a family and professional support network that surrounds our elders and activates their societal role, the second is enhancing family stability by supporting the family in performing its parental roles efficiently and responsibly, and the third is enabling institutional excellence through building human, technical and media capabilities, in order to achieve an integrated institutional transformation and ensure The impact is sustainable, and translates Her Highness’s directives into a tangible reality that serves the family and enhances the quality of life in our society.

Her Highness praised the “Our Barakatna” initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, and whose implementation is supervised by the Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi, in cooperation with the Family Development Foundation and a number of agencies and institutions concerned with the social sector in the emirate, including “Our Barakatna Pulse” and “Barakatna Clinic”, to enhance the efficiency of providing necessary home care to senior citizens in appropriate family conditions that guarantee them a stable and healthy life among their children and family members.

The Mother of the Nation praised the “Safe Home” initiative and the mechanisms and standards it includes to create safe homes for senior citizens to ensure their safety, stability, and quality of life. Her Highness launched the “Wisdom and Support” initiative, which enhances communication between generations and dedicates the role of senior citizens in transferring experiences and values ​​to emerging generations, within the framework of an integrated vision that reflects interest in the family and its cohesion across the various stages of life.

Her Highness praised the services and programs provided to senior citizens, and the efforts made by the Family Development Foundation in developing an integrated system to serve senior citizens, which contributes to accurately monitoring their needs, enhancing the quality of services provided to them, and consolidating their status and pivotal role in the family and society, within a sustainable vision that enhances community cohesion and quality of life.

Her Highness stressed the importance of fully supporting the category of senior citizens, providing everything that would enhance their quality of life and preserve their dignity, appreciating their giving and accumulated experience, and working to enable them to continue their active role in the family and society, which contributes to consolidating the values ​​of righteousness, solidarity and cohesion between generations, and strengthening the system of sustainable social work that places humans at the forefront of development priorities.

“Mother of the Nation” expressed her optimism about the successes achieved by the programs and initiatives implemented by the Family Development Foundation, which reflect an integrated vision and a solid humanitarian approach in supporting the family and senior citizens, and improving their quality of life, praising the advanced professional level of the services provided, and the sincere efforts made by the Foundation’s employees and work teams, which embodies the spirit of institutional work and integration in serving the family and society, and reflects the sincere commitment to the Foundation’s mission of caring for senior citizens and serving the family and society.

Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates”, directed the launch of a number of important community initiatives on the occasion of the “Year of the Family”, in confirmation of Her Highness’s established approach to promoting family cohesion and establishing societal stability, including the “Support and Wisdom” initiative, emphasizing the pivotal role of grandparents and parents in supporting young people and assisting them in consciously approaching marriage and establishing a family, and drawing inspiration from the experiences of senior citizens and their inherent values in promoting family stability and building bridges of understanding between generations, including… It contributes to consolidating the value of the family, encouraging procreation, and transmitting inherited wisdom as a pillar of a cohesive and sustainable society. The “Barakatna Podcast” initiative is a specialized audio platform concerned with enhancing family stability and communication between generations, through qualitative content that is inspired by Emirati family values, and highlights the experiences of senior citizens and inspiring success stories in the areas of marriage and raising children, which contributes to raising community awareness among youth and families, and supporting general family trends, through a series of specialized family podcast episodes, discussing family issues, procreation, and intergenerational communication, with qualitative content that highlights the role of senior citizens in supporting youth.

Her Highness launched the “Blessing in Our Family” campaign, as an awareness initiative that seeks to enhance the status of the elderly within the Emirati family, and highlight their role as a source of blessing, wisdom and identity, by spreading a culture of respect and inclusion between generations, and enabling families to understand the needs of the elderly and support their active participation, which contributes to consolidating family cohesion and building balanced and sustainable family relationships.

“Our Family’s Past” came within the initiatives of Her Highness that she launched in the “Year of the Family”, which is an interactive social initiative that promotes positive dialogue between generations within the Emirati family, through an innovative family game inspired by local heritage and authentic values, which allows senior citizens to narrate their experiences and life stories, and contributes to conveying wisdom and deepening belonging and mutual respect, in a way that supports family cohesion and bridges distances between generations in a simple and inspiring interactive manner.

Her Highness stressed the importance of intensifying health care for senior citizens, by enhancing cooperation and integration with government health agencies, and learning about the best international practices in this field, in addition to highlighting the important role of the media in spreading health awareness and establishing societal stability, which contributes to supporting quality of life and enhancing family and community cohesion.

His Excellency Ali Salem Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Family Development Foundation, said that the visit of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates,” constitutes an important milestone in the process of family and community work, and embodies a solid leadership approach that places the family at the top of national priorities, praising the community initiatives launched by Her Highness in the “Year of the Family,” which reflect a profound humanitarian vision based on strengthening family cohesion and consolidating the role of senior citizens as a basic pillar in the stability and sustainability of society.

His Excellency stressed that the unlimited support given by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates,” to the family and senior citizens represents a source of inspiration and renewed motivation for all institutions concerned with social affairs, pointing out that the directives of Her Highness constitute a basic reference in developing policies and programs that enhance the quality of life, preserve the dignity of senior citizens, and support generations in building a cohesive family capable of facing the challenges of the present and the future.

His Excellency stressed that the Family Development Foundation, with the support of Her Highness, is continuing its efforts to develop an integrated system to serve families and senior citizens, by strengthening partnerships with government and private agencies, and integrating roles with the institutions concerned, in order to ensure the achievement of a sustainable impact that is consistent with the vision of the “Year of the Family” and translates leadership directives into concrete initiatives and programs that serve the family and society alike.

For her part, Her Excellency Maryam Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Director General of the Family Development Foundation, said: “In the visit of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates,” we read the meaning of closeness, and we sense in it the sincerity of giving, and we derive from it the warmth of leadership that made the family the heart of the nation, and the senior citizens its living memory and beating conscience. Her Highness’s directives were the light of the path, her support was the basis for action, and her presence was a message of loyalty that renews resolve, raises resolve, and gives The work teams provide renewed energy to continue a journey whose title is righteousness, whose spirit is love, and whose goal is a cohesive family and a society that enjoys stability and quality of life.”

She stressed that Her Highness’s unlimited support for senior citizens and the family is rooted in an authentic humanitarian approach, which made caring for senior citizens a duty of fulfillment, and empowering the family a constructive priority. Her Highness’s giving was extended, her generous care was present, and her guidance was a compass that guides and elevates work, and confirms that the human being will remain at the forefront of attention, and that the family will remain the first bulwark of stability, cohesion, and quality of life.

Al Rumaithi praised the inspiring role of the wise leadership, led by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, and His Highness’s continuous support for senior citizens and the family. She praised the decision of His Highness, which reflects the deep humanitarian orientation of his wise leadership, and strengthens the powers of the Family Development Foundation, in a way that contributes to consolidating family stability, developing the care system for senior citizens, and empowering them in appreciation of their giving and their inherent role in building and renaissance of the nation.

She pointed out that the visit of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates” to the Family Development Foundation, coincides with the completion of 20 years of the Foundation’s journey, which over two decades has formed a pioneering model in serving the family and society in their various categories. Today, it continues its journey with confidence and renewal, placing senior citizens and their families at the top of its priorities, and under the generous patronage of Her Highness, in appreciation of their giving, and consolidating the values ​​of loyalty and quality of life.

Her Excellency affirmed that the community initiatives launched by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates,” within the Year of the Family represent a profound humanitarian vision and an integrated approach that reflects Her Highness’s firm belief in the role of the family and senior citizens in building a cohesive and stable society, stressing the Foundation’s full commitment to working to activate these initiatives and translate them into practical programs and projects that achieve its lofty goals in supporting senior citizens and enhancing their family and community role.

She continued: “We continue to support senior citizens in accordance with the wise approach of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates,” in the belief that caring for them is a responsibility of fulfillment before it is a duty of work, and we will continue to develop programs and initiatives that preserve their dignity, enhance their independence, activate their societal roles, and provide them with opportunities to participate and give, inspired by Her Highness’s humanitarian directives as a motivation for sustainability, to guarantee our seniors a decent and safe life, and our family cohesion. firmly established, and our society has stability and a sustainable quality of life.”

Her Excellency briefed the “Mother of the Nation” on the achievements of the “Mafnoud” initiative, which aims to empower senior citizens and enhance their community participation, by providing spaces that unleash their creative abilities and revive crafts in a contemporary spirit that preserves authenticity and keeps pace with the future, by providing a sustainable environment that supports our seniors and gives them real opportunities for production and community participation, so that their mark remains present and their impact continues in society.

Al Rumaithi extended her sincere thanks and appreciation to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates,” for the generous visit, which provided great moral support and renewed motivation to continue working with a spirit of responsibility and commitment in serving senior citizens and the family, and consolidating the quality of life and community cohesion.