Moroccan humanitarian Fawzia Mahmoudi won the top prize Sunday at the sixth edition of the Hope Makers initiative in Dubai, securing the title for Morocco for another year.
Mahmoudi, president of the charity Operation Smile Morocco, was honored for her work providing free surgery to children suffering from cleft lip and palate across Morocco.
The award ceremony was held at Coca-Cola Arena and was presided over by Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s crown prince, deputy prime minister and minister of defense.
Mahmoudi received the main prize of 1 million Emirati dirhams ($272,000). Two other finalists, Moroccan content creator Abderrahmane Raiss, founder of the “Suroor” initiative to pay off debts of orphans, and Kuwaiti activist Hind Al Hajri, founder of the “Bayt Fatima” orphan care initiative in Zanzibar, Tanzania, each received the same amount.
Morocco maintained a strong presence in the final round, with two of the three finalists representing the kingdom.
According to organizers, Mahmoudi’s association has helped more than 19,000 Moroccan children over the years by providing life-changing surgeries, enabling them to eat, speak and socialize normally, while reducing stigma and bullying linked to facial deformities.
The Arab Hope Makers initiative, launched in the United Arab Emirates, recognizes individuals and organizations across the Arab world for impactful humanitarian and social work aimed at improving lives and promoting dignity.
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