Zayed Award Honors Palestinian Group Taawon
The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has named the Palestinian non profit organization Taawon as the third honoree of its seventh edition, recognizing decades of humanitarian and development work across Palestinian communities. The announcement was made ahead of the annual award ceremony scheduled to take place at the Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi on February 4, where Taawon will be honored alongside the other recipients selected for this edition. Established in 1983, the organization operates across the West Bank, Gaza, and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, reaching more than one million people annually. Award judges cited Taawon’s sustained commitment to social resilience and community development as central to its selection, highlighting its long term role in supporting education, health, and cultural life amid prolonged instability in the region.
Since its founding, Taawon has invested more than one billion dollars in humanitarian and development initiatives, implementing over 8,200 projects aimed at strengthening social and economic foundations within Palestinian society. Its programs span education, youth empowerment, orphan care, health services, agriculture, emergency relief, and the rehabilitation of historic towns and cultural landmarks. The organization’s work places particular emphasis on young people, seeking to expand opportunities while reinforcing cultural identity and community cohesion. Judges noted that Taawon’s approach combines immediate humanitarian response with longer term development planning, allowing communities to address urgent needs while building sustainable local capacity in challenging political and economic conditions.
Commenting on the recognition, the chairman of Taawon’s board, Dr. Nabil H. Qaddumi, expressed appreciation to the international judging panel for acknowledging the organization’s mission and impact. He described the award as a reflection of the collective efforts of staff, volunteers, and local partners working across multiple regions. The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity is overseen by an independent committee of global figures engaged in advancing dialogue, coexistence, and peace. Previous honorees of the current edition include the jointly recognized peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia and Afghan advocate Zarqa Yaftali, underscoring the award’s broad focus on peace building, social justice, and human dignity.
Since its establishment in 2019, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has recognized 20 recipients from 20 countries, honoring institutions and individuals whose work promotes solidarity and peaceful coexistence. Organizers have described the award as a platform for highlighting initiatives that bridge divides and foster shared human values across political, cultural, and religious contexts. Taawon’s selection places sustained humanitarian development alongside diplomatic and advocacy efforts within this framework. The upcoming ceremony in Abu Dhabi is expected to bring together international representatives, civil society leaders, and past honorees, reinforcing the award’s role as a global forum for recognizing contributions to human fraternity and long term peace.
