Her session, titled ‘Challenges and Inspiration in Equestrian Stories’, delves into how her horse-riding experiences instilled profound values

 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 26, 2024 – Her Highness Sheikha Hissa bint Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Goodwill Ambassador for the Voices of Future Generations (VoFG) initiative, took the stage on the second day of the Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2024 in a session titled ‘Challenges and Inspiration in Equestrian Stories’. Moderated by Jennifer Malton, Director of Voices of Future Generations and Sustainability at the Emirates Literature Foundation, the session highlighted Sheikha Hissa’s childhood experiences, the influence of her father, and her advocacy for empowering children through storytelling.

Recounting her early years, Sheikha Hissa reflected on the profound influence of horses on her personal growth. “Horses have been my greatest teacher,” she said. “I believe children learn a lot from being around animals in general, but horses have been a humbling experience for me. They have helped me to be compassionate and think of others.”

Sheikha Hissa paid tribute to her late father, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, highlighting the profound impact on her life. “My father was a horseman himself. He was a huge influence on me, especially when it came to falling in love with horses and taking care of the environment.”

Recalling cherished memories with her father, she shared, “We had farms, and we would go with him as children to pick vegetables. He loved animals in his own way. He had marine reserves and farmlands, and he was passionate about wildlife in the region. Once, I had a gazelle, a rescued animal, and he guided me on how to take care of it. These little moments in life had a huge impact on me.”

Sheikha Hissa reflected on how her horse riding experiences instilled two core values: the importance of taking responsibility and the power of cultivating compassion.

The session was attended by Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, and Chairperson of the Board and Managing Director of the Dubai Women Establishment; and Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.

Empowering children

On her role as the Goodwill Ambassador for the Voices of Future Generations for the Middle East region, Sheikha Hissa explained its mission. “The initiative is about children that range from the age of 8 to 12 years old. Half our children write in English, and the other half write in Arabic, because Arabic is our main language, and we wanted to make sure children can have both books.”

She highlighted the initiative’s dual focus on publishing and outreach. “Our main project is to find child authors, publish their stories, and make sure that these books, not just in the Arab region, but globally, reach everyone.” She also spoke about the initiative’s efforts to train children as sustainability ambassadors.

She also credited her father’s encouragement when the initiative was first presented to her. “When I got this pitched to me, I wanted to see what he thought. He was fully on board, which shouldn’t have surprised me, because he cared about children. He cared about their education.”

She described the initiative as multifaceted, focusing on publishing and outreach. “Our main project is to find child authors, publish their stories, and make sure that these books reach everyone, not just in the Arab region, but globally.”

During her session, Sheikha Hissa emphasised the importance of representation in children’s stories. “When we read or see anything on TV, we look for things to relate to ourselves, and sometimes they’re not representing our culture or how we are as a society,” she noted. “When our children publish stories for others in the region and globally, it impacts how people view us.”

Sheikha Hissa called on parents and communities to support their children’s education and creative pursuits.

The Voices of Future Generations (VoFG) initiative, launched under UNESCO’s patronage, is a global project that encourages children to write about sustainability and their rights. HH Sheikha Hissa bint Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum serves as the Goodwill Ambassador for the Middle East region, supporting the initiative’s mission to foster creativity and advocacy among young authors. By empowering children to express their perspectives through storytelling, VoFG aims to inspire a generation of leaders dedicated to shaping a more sustainable and equitable future.

 

-ENDS- 

 

About Dubai Women Establishment

Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) was formed as a statutory body of Dubai Government in 2006 under law no. (24) by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. DWE aims to enhance the professional and leadership capabilities of women, increase their participation in the comprehensive development journey, and strengthen their role in shaping the economic and social future of Dubai, by proposing and developing relevant and impactful policies. DWE is headed by Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of DWE and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court. DWE’s strategic plan for 2023-2027 includes three pillars: creating an enabling environment for women in the labour market, developing women leaders, and enhancing the quality of life for women in society, through which DWE seeks to achieve its vision of “Dubai as a pioneering model for women-friendly cities.” The new strategic plan focuses on contributing to the strengthening of supporting legislation and policies, consolidating partnerships and allowing women to influence locally and globally.

About Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2024

The Global Women’s Forum Dubai (GWFD) provides a platform to explore new strategies for enhancing gender balance and raising women’s participation in the economy and society worldwide. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, GWFD reflects the UAE’s leadership in advancing gender equality and its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5: Gender Equality. Since its inception eight years ago, the forum has become a leading international gathering for fostering dialogue and collaboration to address challenges and opportunities for women worldwide. With a rich agenda featuring diverse discussions, transformative workshops, and impactful speakers, GWFD brings together thought leaders, policymakers, and innovators to inspire progress toward building a more inclusive and sustainable future. The 2024 edition of GWFD, themed The Power of Influence, takes place on November 26-27 at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, gathering over 6,000 participants, 250 speakers and 25 prominent figures and ministers from across the globe. The 130 panel discussions at the forum centre on three pillars: Future Economies and Societies, Collective Engagements and Actions, and Impactful Technologies and Innovations.