Celebration of hope

Hope makers demonstrate unity at a time when despair hangs over the region

Nawal Al Soufi is a runner up at The Arab Hope Makers awards ceremony at Dubai Studio City. Reem Mohammed / The National

Across the Middle East, turmoil continues to grab headlines. But it is not all doom and gloom as demonstrated by the last week’s Arab Hope Maker Awards ceremony in Dubai. On Thursday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, redrew the rules of ceremonies past to award five winners Dh1 million each.

One winner, Nawal Al Soufi, was recognised for her work with refugees trying to cross the Mediterranean. More importantly, the focus of these awards was everyday people. The awards are proof that ordinary people can make the world a better place even as they face the most desperate circumstances. Their stories ignite our hopes and promote optimism when it is desperately needed throughout the Arab world. With more than 65,000 submissions from 22 countries, Hope Makers have been rightly recognised for their achievements.