The award is a humanitarian gesture that serves people and restores consideration to the value of giving

Fawzia Mahmoud, from Morocco, winner of the “Hope Maker 2026” title, confirmed that her team succeeded in helping more than 14,000 cases in Morocco, as their patients benefited from surgical operations that radically changed their lives.

She added: “14 thousand families woke up from the coma and were standing side by side with their children,” referring to the humanitarian and social transformation that the initiative brought about in the lives of the beneficiary families.

She told Emirates Today that her coronation comes as a culmination of the efforts of an integrated work team, praising the “Hope Makers” initiative and its role in creating a tangible humanitarian impact in Arab societies.

In a special statement to Emirates Today, Mahmoud extended special thanks to those in charge of the initiative, considering it “a humanitarian initiative that serves people in various Arab countries and restores consideration to the value of giving.” She explained that the competition witnessed wide participation, as 15,300 candidates were selected for this session, which reflects the scale of the humanitarian movement in the region.

From banking to the humanitarian field

Fawzia Mahmoud spoke about her professional journey, noting that she used to work in the banking sector before heading to association work. She said that she faced great challenges at the beginning of her new career, as a result of her lack of sufficient knowledge of the nature of humanitarian work and its mechanisms.

She added that direct contact with humanitarian cases opened new horizons for her, especially after she discovered the extent of the need for medical equipment entering Morocco, such as anesthesia tools and supplies necessary to perform surgical operations, which strengthened her conviction of the necessity of engaging effectively in this field.

An awareness message against bullying

“Hope Maker 2026” stressed the importance of community awareness, especially among parents, of the seriousness of bullying and its profound impact on children. She pointed out that children with congenital deformities or who have undergone surgeries are still exposed to ridicule and bullying even after treatment, which doubles their psychological suffering.

She said: “If there is no mercy in their hearts for children, how can they expect mercy from others?”, stressing that mercy begins at home, and that the family is an essential partner in building a generation that is tolerant and accepting of differences.

She stressed that humanitarian work is a collective responsibility, and that when hope is planted in the heart of a child, it blossoms into a more humane future for the entire society.