Today's Edition
MUDHI ALOBTHANI (DUBAI)
Hope takes many forms. This year, it shone in life-changing surgeries that restored children’s smiles, in strangers uniting to clear the debts of people in need, and in a safe home built to keep orphaned siblings together.
On Sunday in Dubai, three extraordinary individuals were named Arab Hope Makers, selected from nearly 16,000 applicants across the Arab world. Fouzia Jbara Mahmoudi, Abderrahmane Rais, and Hend Alhajri each received Dh1 million in recognition of their unwavering commitment to transforming lives.
Restoring Smiles
Moroccan humanitarian Fouzia Mahmoudi earned top honours after receiving the highest number of votes during the closing ceremony. She was recognised for her life-long mission focused on children born with cleft lips and palates. In 1999, she founded Operation Smile to provide free surgeries and comprehensive care to these kids, from infancy through adulthood. To date, the initiative has made more than 19,000 life-changing surgeries possible — and offered dental care services to over 120,000 individuals.
Speaking to Aletihad, Mahmoudi dedicated the award to “everyone who worked behind the scenes and believed in this mission”.
She acknowledged that the journey was far from easy. After leaving a career in banking to enter the humanitarian field, she had to navigate the complexities of importing medical equipment and organising surgical missions. “We learned step by step,” she said.
Beyond medical care, Mahmoudi emphasised the importance of compassion and protection for children who may face bullying because of physical differences. “Without love and understanding, they become vulnerable,” she said, stressing that support must begin at home.
Clearing Debts, Restoring Dignity
Fellow Moroccan winner Abderrahmane Rais was honoured for a grassroots initiative supporting widows and vulnerable women in remote mountain communities — a project inspired, he said, by his wife. “This win is for her, for the women, for the mountain communities, and for everyone who supported us,” he told Aletihad.
A content creator, Rais travels to rural areas often beyond the reach of traditional aid. He visits local grocery stores to quietly settle unpaid tabs accumulated by widows struggling to provide for their families. By collecting anonymous donations, he ensures assistance reaches those in Morocco’s far-flung areas.
His debt-relief initiative has helped more than 7,000 people. In addition, he leads projects to dig wells, build homes, and sponsor umrah trips. Altogether, his efforts have supported over 20,000 beneficiaries.
“The Hope Maker award represents collective success,” he said. “I am not the only winner. Everyone who creates hope is a winner. God willing, we will continue to expand our work to reach more people.”
A Home That Keeps Families Together
Kuwaiti winner Hend Alhajri grew emotional as her name was announced. “I am filled with emotions I cannot even put into words,” she said. “It is recognition we did not seek, but it came to us.”
Alhajri began her journey as a volunteer teacher in Tanzania. Many of her students had lost their parents, and she often visited their homes in Zanzibar to offer support. During the rainy season, she saw fragile houses collapse, forcing siblings to separate and live with different families.
Aiming to keep these siblings together, she purchased land and built a residence she named Fatima House — now a safe haven for 47 children. More than shelter, it provides safety, dignity, stability, and the confidence to dream of a brighter future.
“The children are my inspiration — I am driven 100% by them,” Alhajri told Aletihad.
Her advice to aspiring changemakers is simple: “Take the first step. Turn your idea into reality. If it is meant to be, it will happen.”
