Abu dhabi: "Philanthropy and doing good is in our DNA, it's Zakat," stated H.R.H. Princess Lamia Bint Majed AlSaud at a session titled 'The End of Media's Philanthropic Whiplash'. Princess Lamia is the Secretary General and a Board Member of Alwaleed Philanthropies, a Saudi Arabian NGO. Alwaleed Philanthropies focuses on empowering women and youth, strengthening communities, providing disaster relief, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and advancing a healthier, more sustainable environment. "This community, the foundation that I'm working in, works in 190 countries. One of its main areas is empowering women and youth," she noted. HRH Princess Lamia is also a Board Member of BRIDGE Alliance.
According to Emirates News Agency, Princess Lamia, who is one of the region's most influential media leaders, emphasized the significant role of media in empowering and uplifting women. She mentioned, "I get inspired by people that I see every day. And it shapes you as a person. So media and philanthropy are not very far from each other because media. creates awareness on what this community needs."
She further elaborated on the importance of storytelling in philanthropy to create awareness. "I believe we play the role of the guardian to keep reminding people," she said. She pointed out examples like Syria, Palestine, and Myanmar, where media attention has dwindled, urging NGOs and NPs to continue engaging with the media to support those in need.
Discussing project selection, H.R.H. Princess Lamia explained, "We work in almost every country around the world. So there's a formula. We go through it in every project, because at the end of the day, we believe there is no hit and run in philanthropy. So you need to stay with this community [a] minimum of three years. if you want to have an impact on this community."
Princess Lamia highlighted the importance of partnerships at Alwaleed Philanthropies. For every project, a governmental entity and a local NGO are involved to ensure sustainability and meet community needs. This collaborative approach ensures positive community impact.
Alwaleed Philanthropies also supports global health, partnering with organizations like UNICEF and Gavi to provide life-saving vaccines, like measles shots, in developing nations. Specific campaigns in Laos, in collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, and the Lao government, aim to eradicate measles and rubella, addressing vaccine resistance due to cultural assumptions.
Princess Lamia shared an instance from Laos, where she observed firsthand challenges during the rainy season. Skepticism about vaccines was not the primary issue; rather, cultural beliefs led to malnutrition among children. Her observations guided awareness efforts and community support strategies, illustrating media's role as a tool and guide for informed response.
She concluded by reflecting on the cultural significance of philanthropy in the region. "Philanthropy and doing good in this part of the world is in our DNA, it's Zakat. It's an amount of money that you have to pay for others for them to be better. And we have a belief as much as you pay, as much you will get. So I would honestly say we have no benefit, but to do good. And I think the biggest philanthropic entities in the Middle East are out of big businessmen and family businesses. Because this is, it's Islam. This is, when you pay, you get."