Magharebia
By Imrane B Oual
The 11 winners of a recent award event in Marrakech are all examples of what someone can accomplish with perseverance and commitment to a dream.
According to the creator of the “Takreem” initiative, Lebanese media professional Ricardo Karam, the goal is to “spread positive thinking in the minds of young people and inject hope in their hearts”.
This is the first time that the event was hosted by a Maghreb country. Previous editions were held in Beirut, Doha, Manama, and Paris.
Chaired by Queen Noor Al Hussein, wife of the late Jordanian monarch, the November 8-9th award ceremonies honoured Arab creativity and “excellence in various fields, regardless of all religious and ethnic differences”, Karam told Magharebia.
These success stories help inspire other young people that Arabs can achieve great things, he said.
Jordan’s Kamel al-Asmar received the young entrepreneur award for founding the first development and volunteerism network in the Arab world.
This award “proves I’m on the right track and also puts a great responsibility on me”, he told Magharebia.
“I was able to achieve my dream and prove that volunteering is gainful for young people in the Arab world,” al-Asmar said.
‘Support young people’
Jordan’s Samih Toukan received the “outstanding business leadership” award for founding the first Arabic e-mail, later acquired by Yahoo.
“Perseverance, training and openness helped me a lot,” he said. “I dedicate the award to all Arab pioneers.”
‘Pain can be transformed into hope’
Amid a torrent of applause, Moroccan Amina Slaoui received the “human and civil services” award for her support to persons with special needs and the defence of their rights.
She said: “Honouring me with the human and civil service award is a coronation for every Moroccan and Arab woman.”
“I was paralysed after my injury in a bicycle accident but did not give up,” Slaoui said. “I decided instead to work up my strength and invested in changing the fates of people like me.”
“It also motivates me to redouble my efforts to invest in youth and push them toward perseverance and determination that we deserve to live with a positive outlook,” Slaoui continued. “Pain can be transformed into hope.”
