Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie and Minister of Social Development and Family H E Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi with other officials during the event.
Doha, Qatar: The Social Development Centre “NAMA,” one of the centres under the Qatar Foundation for Social Work, concluded the first edition of the Social Innovation Forum 2025, held yesterday under the patronage and presence of Minister of Social Development and Family and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Foundation for Social Work H E Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi.
The event brought together a distinguished group of decision-makers, experts, and stakeholders in the field of social development.
Organised with the support of the Social and Sports Activities Support Fund (DAAM), the forum highlighted the growing role of social innovation as a key driver in building a more inclusive and effective development ecosystem.
The inaugural edition of the forum marked a pivotal step toward establishing a comprehensive national framework for social innovation. It showcased local and international perspectives and experiences that underscored the need to develop new models for social work and adopt innovative practices that enhance the quality of services provided to beneficiaries.
The forum reflects NAMA Centre’s commitment to contributing to the four pillars of the national vision, particularly the social pillar focused on building a cohesive society capable of facing challenges, the human pillar emphasising investment in individual capabilities, and the economic pillar encouraging diversification and the development of non-traditional sectors, notably social innovation.
The forum also witnessed the signing of several agreements and partnerships aimed at supporting the social innovation ecosystem and enhancing its role in serving the community.
Additionally, an exhibition was held featuring schools and supporters in the field of social entrepreneurship, showcasing promising youth-led initiatives that transformed ideas into impactful social projects. As part of the forum’s activities, NAMA Centre announced the winners of the second edition of the Social Entrepreneurship Award across three categories: Secondary Schools, Best Existing Project, and Best Project Idea. The winning initiatives were honored for their efforts in developing sustainable and scalable solutions that align with the award’s goals of promoting a culture of social entrepreneurship and fostering youth initiative.
Top honors were awarded to boys from Qatar Leadership Academy and girls from Al Bayan Secondary School for Girls (1st place), boys from Al Rayyan Private School and girls from Al Wakra Secondary School for Girls (2nd place), boys from Jassim bin Hamad Secondary School and girls from Rabaa Al-Adawiya Secondary School for Girls (3rd place).
Individual awards included Samah Abdulkarim Qassem for Best Project Idea with “Kanar Project”, and Mohamed Wafiq for Best Existing Project with “Wafiq Technology”.
Executive Director of NAMA Centre Ghanem Salah Al Ali stated that the forum’s success confirms Qatar’s strong foundation of talented and innovative youth capable of developing impactful solutions that meet societal needs.
Executive Director of the Social and Sports Activities Support Fund (DAAM) Abdulrahman Abdulatif Al Manaei emphasized that the fund’s support for the Social Innovation Forum stems from its core responsibility to promote national initiatives aimed at modernising the social work ecosystem.
