Business & Money | Tuesday 8 May, 2018 4:45 pm |

Dubai Ladies Club has officially launched its fifth and largest annual charity exhibition, Designs of Hope, which will conclude on May 7. The proceeds of the event, which is taking place as a bridal edition this year, will be dedicated to the Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative’s ‘teacHer’ campaign, to support two comprehensive educational programmes in Ethiopia and Uganda.

 

The charity event is being held in line with the founding father’s values of generosity and giving during the Year of Zayed, and under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women Establishment, President of Dubai Ladies Club and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

 

The exhibition is being hosted in partnership with social enterprise and online boutique, Brides do Good. Dubai Cares, a philanthropic entity dedicated to improving children's access to quality primary education in developing countries, and Plan International, a humanitarian organisation that works across 71 countries to advance children’s rights and equality, are implementing the ‘teacHer’ campaign.

 

Official opening

 

The official opening of the exhibition was inaugurated by HE Hessa Buhumaid, UAE Minister of Community Development, in the presence of HE Shamsa Saleh, CEO of Dubai Women Establishment, Lamia Abdulaziz Khan, Director of Dubai Ladies Club, Eman Mohammed Ahmed Al Suwaidi, Senior Director of The Model Centre in The Executive Council, and Chantal Khoueiry, Founder of Brides do Good. 

 

During the opening, designers who have donated to the Designs of Hope exhibition since its inception were also awarded in recognition of their continuous support. Her Excellency Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, thanked Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and President of Dubai Women Establishment, for their generous patronage of the ‘Designs of Hope’ exhibition and for their tireless development efforts that positively impact all segments of society.

Her Excellency said the exhibition was convened under Dubai Ladies Club’ activity calendar in the ‘Year of Zayed’, validating the developmental approach established by the founding father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who led by example in pioneering a high quality of life for every citizen of the UAE without any distinction.

Expressing her pleasure in honoring the participants in the fifth edition, the Minister of Community Development said she was committed to providing people of determination with all possible means of support towards maximizing their role and contribution to the advancement of society, while highlighting their skills and upgrading their talents and creative abilities.

Her Excellency Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid also commended the participation of people of determination in the ‘Qelada’ initiative of the Ministry of Community Development, stressing they have proved that innovation in the UAE is not exclusive to anyone as long as the individual has the will and determination to achieve aspirations.

Her Excellency pointed out that the ‘Qelada’ initiative, the first of its kind on a nation-wide level, achieves several developmental goals. Key among them are empowering people of determination by integrating them into the labor market, providing them with significant economic independence by marketing their products through various outlets, maintaining the environment and achieving sustainability in an innovative way.

HE Shamsa Saleh, commented: “Deep-rooted values of compassion, generosity and togetherness, instilled in us by our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed, and our wise leadership, who have followed in his footsteps, has shaped the UAE into a nation known for its culture of giving. Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has dedicated her life to this legacy, recognising humanity as the key to prosperity. In July 2013, Her Highness launched the Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative to activate humanitarian efforts locally and regionally. The Initiative reinforces the Emirati spirit of giving, and has implemented various humanitarian projects, including the ‘teacHER’ campaign, which supports girls’ education in developing countries. Education can have a profound impact on the lives of girls across the world and is the key to their prosperity and future.” 

 

HE continued: “The UAE is committed to supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 2030. Through transformative initiatives such as ‘Designs of Hope’ and the ‘teacHER’ campaign, we can drive positive change that will have a direct impact on SDG 4 – ‘ensure inclusive and equitable education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all’, which will in turn help to accelerate the implementation of SDG 5 – ‘achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls’. The ‘Designs of Hope’ exhibition is a prime example of how communities across the UAE and the world can join forces to drive long-term sustainable change. “

 

Lamia Abdulaziz Khan, added: “Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Ladies Club recognises and embraces its opportunity to be a platform for kindness, impact and empowerment. We know that the true potential of the impact we can create will only be unleashed as we nurture a community that champions efforts towards a brighter future. Our annual ‘Designs of Hope’ exhibition has been a signature event through which we have been able to join forces with members of our community to help, to act, to transform, in support of a variety of noble causes.”

 

She continued: “By providing access to quality education for girls, a basic right that many are denied, we can save their lives, make their days easier, and strengthen their faith in both themselves and what they can do with their future. Education empowers girls with awareness on rights, responsibilities and opportunities, encouraging their participation in society with a positive ripple effect on those around them and their nations. Change is crucial, and we are working to drive that change forward through ‘Designs of Hope’. We are delighted with the incredible response we have received from designers, retailers, influencers and members of the public throughout the UAE and beyond, and would like to extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to all involved, including our partner Brides do Good. It is thanks to this support, that we can truly make a difference.”

 

Chantal Khoueiry, said: “Each of the organisations involved in the Designs of Hope – Bridal edition share the same beliefs; that through ensuring access to education we can impact the lives of millions of girls around the world – creating a positive societal change for generations to come. That’s our collective goal. Brides do Good, curates the world’s most beautiful pre-loved and designer sample wedding dresses, helping women find their dream dress at a price they can afford and in doing so, raising funds to ensure every girl has the right to an education; the right to make her own choices in life.”

She continued: “Together we have the power to change lives. We have the power to voice the voiceless. Because investing in the education of a generation empowers entire communities, who in turn secure a safer, healthier and more prosperous outlook for the years to come.  Join our movement and help us give every girl, no matter where she is born, the chance of the future that she deserves. Simply put: your wedding dress, her uniform.”

 

Designs of Hope

 

This year’s exhibition features over 100 donated luxury brand and pre-loved wedding dresses from international bridal designers including Marchesa, Vera Wang, Philippa Lepley, Elie Saab, Valentino, Reem Acra, Peter Langner and Provonias, alongside UAE-based designers, Hamda Alfahim, Esposa Group and Zeena Zaki. The gowns are being sold at a 50 to 75% markdown from original retail prices. Iconic designer Rami Al Ali donated a wedding gown worth AED 100,000, whilst influencer, Mthyael Al Ali, donated her own Oscar de la Renta wedding dress to help drive the impact of the initiative forward. Additionally, members of the public have been encouraged to donate their dresses to support the exhibition.

 

The event also features 1000 designer abayas and kaftans donated by 28 distinguished UAE fashion labels, being sold at an exclusive price of AED 1000 each. 

 

The Qelada project, part of the Ministry of Community Development's efforts to support and empower people of determination, by improving their skills, unleashing their creativity and integrating them into the labour market, is also supporting the exhibition. Developed in cooperation with the UAE Central Bank, Qelada is the first project of its kind in the country and involves recycling UAE dirham banknote scraps to create jewellery. A percentage of Qelada’s proceeds will go towards the ‘teacHER’ campaign.

The exhibition was attended by a number of influencers, including Mthayel Al Ali, Maysa Mughrabi, Mina Alsheikhly and Alreem Saif, in a show of support for the cause. 

 

The ‘teacHer’ campaign

Launched in June 2017 by the Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative, the ‘teacHER’ campaign aims to increase girls’ access to quality education by supporting education programmes and building schools in developing countries. This year’s campaign is dedicated to two educational projects in both Ethiopia and Uganda, which will support twelve schools in host communities with new classrooms, new latrines, and learning materials, as part of a broader programme developed to support refugee and local children. The project involves running accelerated remedial classes for children who have fallen behind, training teachers on how to give vulnerable children, particularly girls, post-trauma counselling and help, and establishing community-learning hubs to increase adult literacy and support mothers as mentors and champions of girls’ education.

 

The project involves running accelerated remedial classes for children who have fallen behind, training teachers on how to give vulnerable children, particularly girls, post-trauma counselling and help, and establishing community-learning hubs to increase adult literacy and support mothers as mentors and champions of girls’ education.