AIWF President & Founder Haifa Al Kaylani OBE was recently invited for an official visit to the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination مؤسسة زايد العليا لأصحاب الهمم in Abu Dhabi and for a meeting with HE Abdulla Al Humaidan, the Secretary-General and his colleagues.
During her visit, Haifa praised the care and rehabilitation provided to various categories of people of determination in the UAE, especially through the programs, initiatives, and projects of the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination. Her visit to Zayed Higher Organization was a valuable opportunity to learn about the organisation’s experiences in the field of care and rehabilitation for various categories of people of determination and to identify the services provided by the institution in terms of educational and rehabilitation services as well as psychological and social health care.
His Excellency Abdullah Al Humaidan, Secretary General of Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, welcomed Dr Haifa Al Kaylani and discussed with her the organization’s important role in hosting the World Rehabilitation Conference (WCR 2024), a leading event to be held in Abu Dhabi and the Middle East for the first time from 23 to 25 September 2024. The conference comes under the theme “Work and Employment” and aims to redefine the debate on rehabilitation and empowerment of individuals of determination. Haifa will be a keynote speaker at this important upcoming conference.
During the joint meeting, Mr Al Humaidan gave a brief explanation of the history of the establishment of Zayed Higher Organization and the services it provides to people of determination and the number of beneficiaries of those services amounting to 27,000 beneficiaries, including more than 1,800 members of the Care and Rehabilitation Center of the organization, and the endless support provided by the leadership of the United Arab Emirates to these groups, pointing to the endeavor of Zayed Higher Organization and in implementation of the directives of the wise leadership to provide the finest and latest means of care and rehabilitation for these groups and work to attract the best technologies and global expertise in this area. The Secretary-General stressed that the Foundation is proud to provide this service to groups who are integral to society and paid tribute to the great support it receives from the wise leadership and supervision of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foundation.
AIWF has long been an advocate for mental wellbeing and resilience in the region, recently hosting a series of virtual panel discussions related to the challenges that Covid-19 presented for women in the economy and especially those with children with additional needs and members of society who have been marginalised for too long due to disability stigma in the Arab world. AIWF looks forward to carrying forward its recent work on wellbeing and resilience for women leaders in the economy to examine how empowering women and children of determination can support their integration into society and the economy for the advancement of wellbeing, equality and prosperity for all citizens in the MENA.
