The number of participants in the 14th edition of Sharjah Award for voluntary Work has increased substantially as compared to the figures of last year, according to a report issued by the award’s executive management.

The award attracted 159 entries this year, an impressive 127 percent growth as compared to the 70 participants in 2015. Participants are competing in different categories including government institutions, civil societies, private sector, families, individuals, voluntary teams and students.

The report was presented during a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Award held recently. The meeting was chaired by Affaf Ibrahim Al Marri, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, and attended by members of the Board of Trustees.

According to the report, the individual participants accounted for 61 percent of the total participants, while 23% of the total participants represented government institutions. The report suggests that there is a remarkable increase in the number of participants in other categories of voluntary works.

Affaf Ibrahim Al Marri, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, extended sincere gratitude and appreciation to H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for his unhindered support to the award since its inception, and his innovative guidance which has helped the award gain momentum and a substantial social impact.

Musabah Balageed Al Kuttbi, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees, said that the steady increase in the number of participants in all categories of the award, year on year, reflects the significance and impact of the award. "The growing participation is a sign of community awareness of the voluntary work", he said.

He added that the Board of Trustees is committed to constantly develop the criteria and categories of the award to maintain its excellence and leadership and to ensure that Sharjah will remain a hotspot for humanitarian work, social service and community development.

Jassim Hamad Al Hamadi, the Secretary-General of the Award, said that the board approved the lists of nominees submitted by official parties, after reviewing the eligible participants, such as those who donated more than 30 units of blood in previous years, the supporters of civil societies and the female volunteers who wash the dead.

During the meeting, members of the Board of Trustees stressed the importance of extensive awareness programs, and urged the relevant entities to reach out to people, provide awareness and training, and encourage them to participate in the award.

Members of the Board of Trustees reviewed the report of the selected winners of the award and the ongoing preparation to host the annual award ceremony for the 13th and 14 editions, which will take place next March.

The judging panel has recently submitted the names of winners to the Board of Trustees for approval. The winners accounted for 37 percent of the total participants in all categories, except for the student category where the winners accounted for 18.6 percent of the total participants. The numbers of participants in all categories, altogether, and in student category, alone, were 84 and 75, respectively.