Minister of Labour H E Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri (second left), Minister of Communications and Information Technology H E Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai (second right), Minister of Social Development and Family H E Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad (third left), Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi (first left), and other officials during the event.
Doha, Qatar: Under the patronage and presence of Minister of Social Development and Family (MSDF) H E Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad “Our blessing is in our unity” event for the members of the Center for Empowerment and Care of the Elderly (Ehsan) was held yesterday at Wifaq Family Consulting Center.
Ehsan is one of the centers under the umbrella of the Qatar Foundation for Social Work, affiliated with the Ministry of Social Development and Family.
The event aimed to celebrate and appreciate the elderly while emphasising the importance of family and social cohesion.
The event was attended by Minister of Labour H E Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, Minister of Communications and Information Technology H E Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi.
In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula, Executive Director of Ehsan, Manal Ahmed Al Mannai, explained the event’s objectives: “We aimed to enhance family communication and cohesion, bringing together members of the community in one place to appreciate the elderly affiliated with the Ehsan Center. This year, the ministry has adopted the slogan ‘Family is The Treasure of a Nation’ as we consider the elderly to be an essential part of family cohesion.”
Al Mannai also highlighted the center’s outreach and future plans: “We have three daytime clubs, three for women and one for men, covering approximately 300 individuals, mostly women, and we have a plan to expand and increase the number of daytime clubs. Elderly individuals may feel that their role is beginning to be marginalised, and that society is not enhancing their role. This is a mistake; they are an extension of us, and we want to show in this forum that the elderly are the foundation of our families and our cohesion.”
Beneficiaries of the Ehsan Center shared with The Peninsula their experiences. Kaltham Al Sulaiti, a long-time member spoke about the positive impact of the club on her life: “I am a retired manager. I joined the club in 2017 and became active in the club’s cultural, social, and sports activities, as well as workshops. We formed a committee called ‘Giving,’ where we organize programs to revive old Qatari traditions and teach our children our customs and traditions. The club has changed my life and made me feel that this is the life I want now.”
Ibtissam Sawalha, another beneficiary, expressed her gratitude: “I have been enrolled in the club for six years, and I have benefited a lot from it. My friends and I always gather, we read the Quran, see each other, and work on handicrafts. I am very happy in this club; it is an amazing breathing space for me as a housewife and as an elderly person in my 60s.”
The event concluded with Minister of Social Development and Family, along with several esteemed individuals, honouring the fathers and mothers affiliated with the Ehsan Center. These individuals were recognised as the “blessing of the community” for their valuable efforts and contributions to nation-building.
