Abu Dhabi University is commemorating its annual “Mother of the Nation” event on the 21st of March 2010, which coincides with the national celebration of Mother’s Day. The event includes several academic and cultural activities. Two lectures will be organized within the event.
The first lecture is titled: “H.H. Sheikha Fatima - Glorious Journey”, while the second lecture is titled: “Successful Women under the leadership of HH Sheikha Fatima”. The event’s activities will take place at the Abu Dhabi University Campus and will continue for one week.
H.E. Ali Saeed Bin Harmal, ADU Chairman of the Executive Board, highlighted the importance of organizing such an event annually as a token of appreciation and recognition of H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairman of Family Development Foundation and President of the Mother of the Nation General Women’s Union. The event is significant and aims at focusing and enhancing the relationships students have with their society and country, which in turn will translate into Her Highness’ vision of the future - enabling women through education along with active involvement in the development of the nation.
This, despite the fact that women still suffer from discrimination problems and are faced with special challenges, especially in education and the work environment. Women in the UAE accomplished a lot with the support and sponsorship of the Mother of the Nation, who provided local women with suitable circumstances along with learning and job opportunities. These achievements represent the main focus of the Mother of the Nation and these achievements have made her a role model for women all over the Arabic and Islamic world.
Bin Harmal also paid tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s role and achievements in the development of women. Sheikh Zayed considered women to be the most important part of society and supported Her Highness with her development projects for women. These projects have had an impact locally, regionally and internationally and made the UAE experience in women development a model for all international organizations for women.
Bin Harmal added that Abu Dhabi University, as well as all other institutions of higher learning, has a duty to shed a light on the leadership characteristics of the Mother of the Nation in different fields such as education, culture, social and economy. H.H. has always been a keen supporter of women within different fields such as knowledge and employment, and has continuously represented women as main contributors to the process of developing society. UAE women have filled several leading positions; they are currently serving the nation as doctors, teachers, engineers, officers, professors, members of the National Council, and ministers.
The “Mother of the Nation” event includes several activities. These activities include a photography exhibition on Sunday, the 21st March, which will showcase the accomplishments and efforts of the Mother of the Nation in developing women and society. There will also be an exhibition with a heritage section that will revisit the traditions of UAE society from days gone by.
On Monday, 22nd of March, the first lecture about H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak will be held. Dr. Metha Salem Al Shamsi, Minister and Board Chairman of the Marriage Fund, Ms. Sana’a Darwish Al Kutbi, Advisor of H.H. the Ruler of the Western Region for Humanitarian Causes, and Ms. Moza Al Otaiba will be the speakers at this event.
The activities on Tuesday, the 23rd of March, will include student participation in several practical workshops in the general Women’s Union. These workshops are aimed at teaching students different practical and educational skills as well as handicrafts that will benefit mothers in their duties as the nucleus of productive families in the UAE.
Events on Wednesday, the 24th of March, will include the second lecture which will be presented by one of the most famous women leaders in the UAE in collaboration with some of the ADU students. The second lecture is titled: “Successful Women under the leadership of HH Sheikha Fatima”. Ms. Kholoud Al Dhaheri, a Primary Judge in the UAE, is the speaker for this lecture and she will speak of her experiences in both the educational and judiciary fields.
The “Mother of the Nation” activities will conclude on Thursday, the 25th of March. The activities on this day will focus around a dramatic representation by the students of the Mother of the Nation’s supporting role in education for women and her commitment in ensuring that these standards became a national norm in terms of language and local social identity. The activities will include poetry and debate session about the efforts of Mother of The Nation between the students.
Bin Harmal expressed his appreciation for the organizations and establishments that supported these events through their sponsorship, especially the Family Development Foundation and the General Women’s Union, as well as the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage and the organizations that supported this national academic and cultural event with materials and financial donations.