At birth, baby Antheia was diagnosed with a cleft lip but regardless of the abnormality, her parents were grateful that their daughter was otherwise in good health and did not require any medication.

The doctor who handled the delivery had recommended that baby Antheia receive surgery at the age of 3 months but her parents were overwhelmed both by the cost of the surgery and the restrictions in place that prevented operations of this nature due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

By the age of 6-months the unrepaired cleft lip was causing major health issues for Antheia as food and saliva would drip down, and the competence of the lip muscle was compromised also affecting the nose. An operation was urgently needed so baby Antheia could continue to develop into a healthy young girl.

Having tried every avenue to gain access to the surgery the parents finally wrote to Al Jalila Foundation with their request and were overjoyed when it was confirmed her operation was scheduled at Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital.

Now, 2 months after the operation, baby Antheia is recovering very well; she has a healthy appetite and cheerful disposition that shows off her great big smile.

Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father of the UAE, was a strong advocate for women and believed that “the woman is half of the society” and should be empowered, respected and developed to contribute equally to the country’s success.

Every year, Al Jalila Foundation joins the nation in celebrating Emirati Women’s Day recognising the accomplishments of women and honouring them for their contributions to the development and advancement of the nation. This year’s theme was “women are the support of the nation”.

Supporting this vision and continually striving to be leader in medical innovation, Al Jalila Foundation invests in the next generation of doctors by offering medical scholarships to Emirati students and research grants to UAE-based scientists. Since 2013, Al Jalila Foundation has supported 44 Emirati women with medical scholarships and awarded 7 pioneering Emirati female scientists with prestigious research and fellowship grants, with an investment of over AED 9 million.

Her Excellency Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, said: “We are thrilled to see so many Emirati women seizing the opportunity to take on leading roles in science and medicine. On this Emirati Women’s Day, we celebrate women’s contributions to the advancement of the UAE and know that by empowering our women, we empower our nation.”

Despite challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic we are very proud that the end of the 2020 academic year saw the graduation of the 6th cohort of Ta’alouf Teachers Training Program comprising of 73 teachers from 23 schools.

Through Ta’alouf Teachers Training Program, in partnership with Zayed University, Al Jalila Foundation equips teachers from public and private schools with skills to broaden inclusivity in their classrooms and empower children of determination.

During these unprecedented times teachers have been remarkable at adapting their skills to teach remotely and ensure that no child is left out. For the first time the Ta’alouf program was delivered with a blended learning approach with face to face sessions and online sessions.

Dr Anna Ferreira, the program lead, said “The 6th cohort participants showed us that UAE teachers are flexible and creative; they meet new challenges with such a positive spirit.”

The program which is delivered in English and Arabic was born out of the principle that every child, no matter their ability, has enormous potential and that potential should be harnessed to empower the child to live a happy and productive life.

To date the Ta’alouf Teachers Training Program has trained 416 educators from 116 schools in the UAE.

By mid-January 2020, 3-year-old Wed had already been to what felt like hundreds of doctor’s appointments. She suffered from severe knee pain as a result of worsening genu varum (bilateral leg deformities or ‘bow legs’).

After visiting Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital, it was apparent that this condition was also affecting her mental health as much as the physical. Young Wed was sad and withdrawn and refused to play with other children.

Although it was clear that surgery would profoundly improve her condition, the family was struggling to proceed due to financial constraints. Wed was referred as a candidate to receive support from Al Jalila Foundation’s A’awen program that supports patients in need and she was able to undergo surgery in March 2020.

Throughout postoperative-care Wed has proven to be an extraordinary young patient who alerts doctors to any discomfort she experiences allowing them to intervene at opportune moments.

Much to Wed’s delight the last x-ray showed her bones have healed nicely and after these few short months her personality has changed completely and the once withdrawn child is an extrovert who enjoys wearing dresses and playing with friends.

Read more about Wed’s life changing story here.