The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity hosted a high-level dialogue session for global influencers and content creators during World Governments Summit Week in Dubai, reinforcing its mission to translate universal human values into tangible global impact and to build a powerful international narrative around peace and coexistence.
Held under the theme “How the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity Builds Global Awareness of the Values of Peace and Coexistence,” the session aimed to move the Award’s message beyond symbolic recognition and into a dynamic humanitarian movement capable of driving real-world change—both on the ground and across digital platforms.
The session brought together distinguished past and present honorees whose work exemplifies the Award’s core values, including Zarqa Yaftali, a leading advocate for Afghan Girl’s education; Mama Shamsa, a Kenyan peacebuilder and community activist; and Heman Bekele, a young scientific researcher and innovator in global health.
The program featured a special documentary highlighting the Award’s international journey and impact, followed by an open dialogue that enabled participating influencers to engage directly with the speakers.
More than 60 influencers and content creators from the Middle East, North Africa, and across the world took part. Their work spans humanitarian action, education, youth empowerment, peacebuilding, and social responsibility. The session sought to establish strategic partnerships with these influential voices, empowering them to serve as digital ambassadors for the Award’s mission and to carry the human fraternity narrative to global audiences across their platforms.
Mama Shamsa emphasized that rebuilding divided communities begins with “putting humanity first,” explaining that she chooses to see people as human beings before any differences of religion, background, or social status. She noted that trust, especially among youth exposed to violence or extremism, cannot be built through slogans, but through authenticity, patience, and listening. She described her work as “motherhood in practice,” creating safe spaces and reintegrating young people rather than pushing them further toward danger. She concluded by calling on content creators and media voices to use their platforms to heal, empower, and highlight stories that inspire connection rather than division.
Zarqa Yaftali said the recognition extends far beyond her as an individual, describing it as an acknowledgment of millions of Afghan women and girls who are denied their fundamental right to education. She stressed that restricting access to schools and universities is not only an education crisis, but a human crisis that undermines dignity, opportunity, and the future itself. She dedicated the honor to Afghan mothers who sustain hope in the most difficult circumstances, and to young girls who continue to dream of becoming doctors, engineers, journalists, lawyers, and leaders, despite the challenges they face.
Heman Bekele highlighted that a researcher’s responsibility does not end with laboratory results or academic publication, but begins with the question of impact, how research can improve people’s lives. He noted that scientific environments can sometimes focus on internal recognition while losing sight of broader social responsibility, particularly toward communities unable to access costly solutions. He added that promoting human fraternity in science means ensuring innovation is effective, affordable, and accessible, so that scientific excellence becomes a tool for dignity and inclusion rather than a privilege for a few.
This session marked a significant milestone in the of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity’s engagement with content creators and digital influencers. Through this initiative, the award reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the values of human fraternity and the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the United Arab Emirates.
