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'Women should not be subjected to oppression or injustice'

Abu Dhabi - An Emirati entrepreneur, Al Ruwaini, was one of the winners of the Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice 2018.

Giving back to the community, especially to women and young girls so that they can lead healthy lives and not be subjected to any form of oppression or injustice, is important, said Nashwa Al Ruwaini, the first Emirati woman to win the Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice.
An Emirati entrepreneur, Al Ruwaini, was one of the winners of the Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice 2018. She was awarded for all her philanthropic efforts in revolutionising the image of women in the Middle East as well as all her charitable activities that she has undertaken to improve the lives of women and children through her humanitarian organisation - The Nashwa Foundation.
Al Ruwaini was granted the award in Mumbai, India, at a ceremony organised by the Harmony Foundation following a conference with the theme of 'Protect Her Empower Her' focused on the empowerment of the girl child. Al Ruwaini spoke about the role of lobbying for laws, society and technology in protecting and empowering young women - a cause Al Ruwaini is very dedicated to.
"It is such a great honour to win this accolade and is very dear to my heart. Mother Teresa is one of my favourite role models. This award serves as a reminder that I need to continue my philanthropic work which I find to be just as important as my professional career," Al Ruwaini said to Khaleej Times.
She added that under the guidance of the UAE leadership, especially Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, also known as the 'Mother of the Emirates,' women are provided with all the necessary resources and systems allowing them to succeed, fulfill their goals and be an integral and significant part of the society.
"The leadership of the UAE has empowered women. They are in powerful government positions and are great business leaders. I wish this was the case for all women and young girls in the region," said Al Ruwaini.
She received the award from the great grandson of the legendary Mahatma Gandhi, Tushar Arun Gandhi, in the presence of Mohamed Al Jalah Al Teneiji, UAE Consul-General in Mumbai.
Speaking about her childhood and charity, Al Ruwaini said she had a good childhood and that she started her first charity when she was just six years old. "I asked all my friends to help me in raising money so that I could buy Eid clothes for my porter's daughter," she says.
"We raised funds by buying lemons whole sale and then selling them. We were a bit short, so I took the rest of the money from my mum who was so impressed and she took me to buy the clothes. That charity project was the beginning of more to come."
The Nashwa Foundation began from the days when she was a TV presenter and would get letters requesting help from the Arabic speaking audience. "I decided to create an organisation which started with the Zakat money of direct family and then it spread to friends and friends of friends," she said.
"The idea behind my charity is that I connect people up to do services. So for example, I connect up sick people with doctors since it is not just about raising funds, or we buy machines for hospitals."
Al Ruwaini said her charity also helps young children get an education where they pay tuition fees or act as a family and pay the dowry for young girls to get married. "We also lobby for laws that empower women and children and we are a bunch of silent warriors who choose to help with laws such as with issues like crimes of honour or passing on the nationality through mothers. My aspiration is to be the voice of the voiceless."
ismail@khaleejtimes.com