Dubai, May 9, 2018: Under the patronage and supervision of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC), winners of the fourth edition of the Al Mutwasef competition ceremony was held today, Wednesday 9th of May, at Abu Hanifa Boys School in Al Quoz, Dubai.

The competition tagline was inspired by the words of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who said: “Whoever has no past has neither present nor future.”

Al Mutwasef is an educational initiative by HHC that promotes the Emirati heritage. The competition, organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Abu Hanifa Boys School is inspired by the work of the Emirati author Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmook who compiled, annotated and published the Emirati proverbs in one book in Arabic and English language.

Participants came from various schools across Dubai who were judged based on their proper and meaningful recitation and understanding of Emirati proverbs. This year, the competition was expanded to include teachers, school administrators and parents.

The awarding ceremony was attended by H.E. Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmook, CEO of HHC, and a number of officials at the Center;  Eng. Khalfan Al-Marashdeh, Director of Skills Development at the Welfare Sector of the  Ministry of Education also graced the occasion as well as faculty members and supervisors from Abu Hanifa Primary School.

Bin Dalmook underlined the significance of the competition in promoting the cultural values ?? of the UAE as represented in its popular proverbs which were passed on from generation to generation.

“What the UAE has achieved is a result of the vision and works of the country’s founding fathers and current leader and HHC has vowed to continue the mission of spreading awareness about heritage and culture under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai,” Bin Dalmook said.

“These values ??and customs should be transferred to the present and succeeding generations through various means, including competitions, activities and heritage events,” said Bin Dalmook, adding: “There are many creative ways to involve the young generation in safeguarding the heritage and strengthening the national identity,” in Dalmook added.

Fatima Saif Al Falasi, HHC Director of Research and Studies, added: “We celebrate a heritage competition that was launched by the HHC four years ago. We are proud to see a significant increase in the number of students participating in the competition this year, and the inclusion of teaching staff and schools as well as the addition of the parent’s category.”

 

Sharifa Ahmed, supervisor of the competition at Abu Hanifa Primary School, said: “The competition has helped enlighten the minds of the participants and promoted cultural heritage.”

Meanwhile, Bin Dalmook expressed his pride in the wide response and the increasing number of categories and participants. He congratulated all the winners and awarded trophies to Eng. Khalfan Al-Marashdeh, Director of Skills Development at the Welfare Sector of the Ministry of Education as well as Ms. Mariam Al Suwaidi, principal at Abu Hanifa School and the panel of judges.

WINNERS

Primary level

1st – Amira Al-Wakil (Al-Ansariyah School)

2nd – Mansoor Al-Kathiri (Al-Nokhba School)

3rd – Amna Al Abdoli (Sara School)

Secondary level

1st – Moza Al Mansoori (Jumeirah School)

2nd – Noura Al Ketbi (Al Waha School)

3rd – Mohammed Al Haddad (Institute of Religious Education)

Senior level

1st – Khatun Hattawi (Al Dhahra School)

2nd – Rua Al Sabbagh (Al Sufouh School);

3rd – Hasan Al Hammadi (Al Shaarawi School)

Administrative and teaching staff category

1st – Oushba Al Muhairi, princiapal of Al-Raya School

2nd – Kulaitham Bidwawi from Al Dhahra School

3rd – Fatima Al-Ibrahim teacher at Outba Bin Ghazwan

Parents Category

Kulaitham Bidwawi