Prince of the Eastern Province Award for the Ideal Mother: Honoring 15 Stories of Struggle and Success
On an exceptional night, filled with pride and tears of joy, His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province, presided over the ceremony honoring the winners of his "Ideal Mother" award. He recognized 15 women who have exemplified remarkable patience and sacrifice in raising orphans. This honor was not merely a fleeting celebration, but rather a badge of distinction that erased the hardships of years of dedication and generosity, transforming daily challenges into inspiring national success stories.
Social and developmental dimensions of the award
The Prince of the Eastern Province Award for the Ideal Mother holds special significance that transcends mere celebration. It is considered one of the most prominent initiatives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that highlights the role of women in preserving the family unit, especially in the absence of the father. This award reinforces the concept of "social empowerment," aiming to motivate mothers raising orphans to give even more to nurture a generation that will contribute to building the nation. This aligns directly with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which focuses on enhancing quality of life and empowering the most vulnerable segments of society.
The winners' feelings: a source of comfort and a culmination of patience
The winners described the moment they ascended the stage as a "turning point" in their lives. Speaking to Al-Youm newspaper, winner Umm Fahd expressed her overwhelming emotions, emphasizing that this recognition was a "heartfelt consolation" and an official acknowledgment of the immense responsibility borne by mothers of orphans. She noted that the award provided her with tremendous moral support to continue her journey of giving, considering the appreciation from the leadership and society to be the true reward.
Umm Fahd
A story of perseverance... from stumbling to first place
In an inspiring example of perseverance, Wadha Al-Anzi, the first-place winner in the personal track, recounted her journey to Al-Youm newspaper. Al-Anzi's path was not easy, as she was unsuccessful in her first attempt. Instead of despairing, she transformed that experience into motivation for self-improvement by enrolling in training courses and volunteering, ultimately securing first place on her second attempt. She attributed her success to her children and their academic excellence, describing them as her "true supporters" and the pillars upon which she relied throughout her struggle.
Wadha Al-Anzi
Strict standards and new quality pathways
This year's award saw significant improvements in its evaluation mechanisms and inclusivity. The head of the judging panel, Ibtisam Al-Humaizi, explained that the competition was fierce, reflecting the mothers' awareness and their commitment to excellence. More than 4,300 women applied for the award, and their applications underwent a rigorous screening process, from which 81 applications that met all the stringent criteria were shortlisted.
Al-Humaizi explained that the award expanded in its second edition to include qualitative tracks that touch on different aspects of excellence, most notably education, health, motherhood excellence and social relations, in addition to the “success stories” track that was created to accommodate inspiring experiences that may not fall under traditional standards, thus opening the door to a wider segment of creative women.
Ibtisam Al-Humaizi, Head of the Judging Committee for His Highness the Prince of the Eastern Province's Ideal Mother Award
Community partnership to achieve Vision 2030
For his part, Abdulaziz Al-Hajri, Deputy General Supervisor of the Award, confirmed that this year's edition was distinguished by broad participation, including seven associations from various governorates in the region, including Al-Ahsa, Hafr Al-Batin, and Jubail. This geographical expansion reflects the award's comprehensiveness and its commitment to reaching every household in need of support.
Al-Hajri pointed out that the award practically translates the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in enhancing the quality of life and empowering the family, through stimulating institutional social work and measuring the educational impact on orphans, which contributes to graduating a generation capable of relying on itself and serving its country effectively.
Abdulaziz Al-Hajri, Executive Director of the Jubail Orphans Association, Deputy General Supervisor of the Prince of the Eastern Province Award for the Ideal Mother
