With Emirati women taking the lead in the region through socio-economic initiatives, we spoke to two inspiring women who are part of The Reach Campaign.
While playing an important role in shaping the strategy for the Crown Prince’s Court, these women have made a mark globally and Emirates Woman sat down with them to learn more about their contributions to society.
Tala Al Ramahi, Associate Director at the Office of Strategic Affairs, Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi
What makes you proud to be an Emirati woman?
I am proud of the fact that I am from a country that puts women’s empowerment and equity at the forefront of its development priorities. I am privileged to have the opportunity to play an integral role in driving the UAE’s agenda, development and prosperity forward.
Tell us about your role at Reach and how does it uplift women on a daily basis?
The Reach Campaign is a campaign that aims to raise funds to address two neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), namely, river blindness and lymphatic filariasis. Over 200 million people worldwide are in need of treatment for river blindness whilst over 850 million people are at risk of lymphatic filariasis, with many in Asia, Africa, the Western Pacific and parts of the Caribbean and South America. Through The Reach Campaign, we engage with partners who can help us through financial commitments, but also play a critical role in raising awareness about the importance of addressing these diseases through global partnerships and action. One of the main impacts of NTDs is on the families of those that become ill, the burden is felt more acutely on women as they tend to take on the caretaker role. Eradicating NTDs would result in an increase of women able to return to education and the workforce so that they can reinvest in their communities and families.
This year’s theme for Emirati Women’s Day is ‘Women: Ambitions & Inspiration for the next 50 years’, what are your aspirations for the empowerment of women in the future?
I look forward to a future where my daughter can dream big, aspire to be in whichever field she desires, knowing that the UAE will guarantee her equal pay in whatever she decides to do. The UAE has paved the way for women to contribute significantly to the fields of science, the arts and public policy, among many others, and for my daughter to know that there is a world of possibilities for her to conquer because other brilliant and trailblazing Emirati women who have paved the way is something I am excited for her to live through.
How have the emirates changed over the years and which opportunities are you particularly grateful for?
Since it was founded in 1971, the UAE has put the agenda of women’s empowerment at the forefront of its national priorities. The UAE now leads on many gender indicators globally, including the number of women specializing in STEM fields, as well as the percentage of women represented in parliament. Growing up, I was inspired by Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the first Emirati woman to hold a Ministerial position. Today, we have many women who hold this title because of the UAE’s vision in ensuring women are part of the decision-making and nation-building process. To be able to contribute, albeit in a humble way, to this has been one of the significant milestones of my career.
What are some of the global health and gender empowerment issues faced and how are you on a mission to overcome them?
When it comes to NTDs we try to address them through the global health work at The Reach Campaign and its affiliated projects, we aim to address disease elimination through a gender lens. In many diseases that we are trying to eliminate globally, women and girls bear the brunt of these diseases because they historically carry the majority of childcare responsibility, and when their family members are debilitated by some of these diseases, these women are pulled out of their daily lives to care for them. This leads to an increased chance of compromising their schooling and missing out on economic opportunities. Bringing a gender lens to addressing NTDs is crucial as it can both accelerate positive healthcare outcomes, and also address the hidden gendered educational, leadership and economic costs of these diseases, unlocking new community assets and resources.
How do you think women can best support each other and have you felt this support yourself?
Seeking female mentors that I admire and look up to has always provided me with great insight and opportunities that I may have not known about. I’ve been privileged to learn from and work alongside many intelligent and pioneering Emirati leaders who continue to remain humble in their pursuit of excellence and positive change. As much as I can, I also try to offer my time to share my experiences with other women on similar career journeys, because the success of one woman is a success for all.
Hadeel Al Jaberi, Senior Associate at the Office of Strategic Affairs (Crown Prince Court)
What makes you proud to be an Emirati woman?
I am proud of the fact that I come from a country that not only champions and empowers women, but also believes that women can play a leading role in building the nation. As a whole, the UAE is setting an example to the world that women have active roles at all levels of society.
This year’s theme for Emirati Women’s Day is ‘Women: Ambitions & Inspiration for the next 50 years, what are your aspirations for the empowerment of women in the future?
The role women have been playing in the UAE over the last 50 years has been a vision of our late founding father, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Our role as women continues to progress thanks to the support of our Mother of the Nation, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. With the support of our forward-thinking leadership, we will continue to ensure that Emirati women fulfill the UAE’s values and traditions by being leaders and changemakers.
How have the emirates changed over the years and which opportunities are you particularly grateful for?
There are numerous opportunities I am grateful for. The UAE continues to lead impressive efforts in empowering women and this has resulted in the country being ranked first regionally in the 2020 UN Gender Inequality Index. Throughout the years, we have witnessed incredible advancements across several sectors of society, allowing us to make a greater impact in our country.
How rampant are neglected tropical diseases and how have your duties curbed this on a global scale?
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) threaten more than 1.7 billion people living in the poorest and most marginalized communities worldwide. As part of my work for The Reach Campaign, a fundraising campaign aimed at raising money in order to eradicate NTDs, namely river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, I source new partners and manage stakeholder relationships. I am positive that with the support of our partners we will be able to ensure a brighter future for the millions of people affected by NTDs.
How do you think women can best support each other and have you felt this support yourself?
Speaking from my personal experience, as women, we should be grateful for the mothers in our lives. I have received unconditional love and support from my mother which will always motivate me to pursue my dreams and work harder towards achieving my goals.
As women, we should live by values that empower and support other women as we collectively have an impact. I am truly grateful for all the support I have been receiving from women throughout my life.
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