Abtaal Al Jalila
All posts by Abdullah Zafar
Aya pursues a career in medicine
Aya Akhras’ lifelong dream was to help people and while excelling at biology in high school she set her sights on becoming a doctor. Thanks to her exceptional academic record, in 2016, Aya gained admission to the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Healthcare Sciences (MBRU) College of Medicine to pursue a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) with a scholarship from Al Jalila Foundation.
“The Al Jalila Foundation scholarship and studying at MBRU give me a great sense of accomplishment and I feel honored to be recognised for my efforts while doing what I love.”
Over the past 3 years, Aya has proven herself a worthy candidate for the sought after scholarship and participated in an internship at Queens University in Belfast, a summer research program at Mayo Clinic and an observership at Cleveland Clinic. Aya is also very involved in student life at MBRU and in addition to her rigorous academic schedule Aya is an aspiring baker who sees baking as a way of spreading happiness and connecting people.
Expected to graduate in 2022, Aya believes that the physician of the future is a multi-faceted individual capable of displaying their talents in many ways. “I see myself practicing as a physician, researcher and hopefully obtaining a position in academia, as I am passionate about medical education and educating the physicians of the digital age.”
Giving Hope with Al Jalila Foundation
September 2019
As a global philanthropic organisation we aim to make a difference by empowering people to offer their unique contribution to better the world through medical innovation. On the occasion of International Day of Charity, Al Jalila Foundation takes the opportunity to inspire giving initiatives and activities to touch the lives of children. Each step we take brings with it a new sense of hope lighting the path for a brighter future and we invite you to make a donation to help us transform lives. Explore some of our programs to see how you can spread hope with Al Jalila Foundation, today.
Adam’s Story of Hope
Khalid’s determination inspires the nation
Khalid Al Ali is a young Emirati man with an enchanting smile and a strong will. The 26-year-old athlete – an international swimmer and a member of the UAE National Swim Team – has a long list of hobbies that include horseback riding, sailing and kayaking.
He has also participated in international sports championships in several countries including representing the UAE in kayaking in the Special Olympics World Games held in Abu Dhabi in 2019.
Born with Down syndrome, Khalid has become an inspiring young man, thanks to his perseverance and his family’s support. His Father enrolled in Al Jalila Foundation’s ‘Ta’alouf’ program, which trained him to communicate better with Khalid and understand his feelings and behaviour, helping the family to further empower him towards fulfilling his potential and meeting his aspirations.
Ta’alouf has empowered hundreds of parents and teachers with each one of them working daily to bring inclusiveness into our community, homes, classrooms and playgrounds so every child has the opportunity to thrive and experience all that life has to offer.
Watch Khalid’s Story of Hope here.
Benefit San Francisco
Al Jalila Foundation basma Ramadan campaign raises AED 1.5 million to give sick children in the UAE a reason to smile
Al Jalila Foundation, a global philanthropic healthcare organisation dedicated to transforming lives, announced the successful completion of the annual Ramadan campaign ‘basma’, smile in Arabic, launched in partnership with a number of hospitality, leisure and retail outlets across the UAE. In its third year the month-long charity campaign has proven to be an established feature on the Ramadan calendar with the record number of 130 retail, hospitality and strategic partners engaging their customers and raising AED 1.5 million to provide life-saving treatment and medical care to children in need.
In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, “to create hope, life and happiness for everyone in the UAE”, Al Jalila Foundation believes that health is the cornerstone to happiness and every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy, dream and realise their potential.
Al Jalila Foundation works closely with healthcare partners to develop special treatment programs that meet the needs of patients who are unable to afford quality care. Farah is the Foundation’s paediatric treatment program which to date has invested AED 22 million to help sick children in the UAE.
Her Excellency Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg, Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Member of the Board of Trustees of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “There can be no greater gift than to contribute to the well-being of children in our community and empowering the next generation. We are delighted that our basma campaign has once again brought together an unprecedented number of partners who devoted the month of giving to support Al Jalila Foundation in its mission to improve the lives of young patients.”
Al Jalila Foundation praised its basma partners for their creative initiatives and fundraising efforts to support medical treatment for children under the Ramadan campaign’s slogan “your gift, their smile”.
Long term partners Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) and Emirates National Bank of Dubai (ENBD) launched unique SMS campaigns to engage their networks through existing donation platforms. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) also lead an internal SMS campaign encouraging donations from employees.
noon, the home-grown digital marketplace, included a donation option at check-out, tajawal, a digital solution for holiday bookings, donated AED 5 from each transaction and My Quality & Convenience offered 10% of proceeds from online grocery sales.
The leading hospitality brands in the UAE joined the basma campaign including: 21 Marriott hotels; 11 Jumeirah Restaurant Group dining outlets; 7 Millennium Hotels and Resorts properties; Hyatt hotels; Atlantis The Palm; Media Rotana; Taj Dubai and Pullman Dubai JLT dedicated Iftar and Suhour proceeds to support the campaign. Haji Sahab Restaurant doubled their charity efforts by donating proceeds from Iftar packs distributed to thousands at labour camps in Dubai while Nando’s placed donation boxes at 21 outlets across the UAE. For the sweet-toothed 35 Shakespeare and Co. cafés, La Serre, Pastel Cakes and eat well Restaurant donated a portion of patisserie sales throughout the month.
Kiehl’s created a limited edition collection in collaboration with Lebanese illustrator Nouri Flayhan exclusively for Al Jalila Foundation and The Surf Café in partnership with MonViso Water curated a charity exhibition by local artists donating all sales proceeds. Splash ‘n’ Party, a Dubai kids water park, dedicated proceeds from ‘zipline’ tickets.
In addition to the basma campaign, BNI UAE chapter in partnership with Millennium Hotels and Resorts hosted an elegant charity gala ‘My Giftar’. Al Jalila Foundation also received generous donations during Ramadan from a number of organisations including Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank; Commercial Bank of Dubai; amongst others.
To conclude the month of giving and in celebration of Eid, Team Al Jalila visited young patients at Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital and spent time reading stories to the children, playing games and bringing some joy to the little ones. Drawing on the support of basma partners and the campaign’s values of generosity and compassion Al Jalila Foundation touched hearts and spread smiles to sick children most in need.
Grosvenor House
Emirates Golf Club
