Unaizah patient charity wins first Prince Faisal volunteer award

The Friends of Patients Association in Unaizah received the inaugural Prince Faisal bin Mishaal Award for Volunteer Work in the Best Volunteer Opportunity Provider category. The recognition spotlights the association’s volunteer program and its role in Saudi Arabia’s push to expand civic participation under Vision 2030.

Why it matters: - The award recognizes a local nonprofit’s volunteer program as a model for organized civic participation in Saudi Arabia. - The honor aligns with Saudi Vision 2030’s goal of reaching one million volunteers by 2030. - The association’s work affects patients who rely on financial, medical and social support.

What happened: - His Royal Highness Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of the Qassim Region, honored the Friends of Patients Association in Unaizah with the first edition of the Prince Faisal bin Mishaal Award for Volunteer Work. - The association won in the Best Volunteer Opportunity Provider category. - Executive Director Basil bin Mohammed Aba Al-Khail received the award on behalf of the association.

The details: - Aba Al-Khail said the recognition reflects the association’s work in creating volunteer opportunities and motivates the team to continue delivering strong results. - He said the association runs several programs that serve patients and that activating its volunteering department is one of its most important efforts. - Maha bint Ibrahim Al-Oraini, head of the Volunteering Department, said volunteering has become institutional work guided by standards set by the National Center for the Development of the Non-Profit Sector and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. - Al-Oraini said those entities have created specialized platforms that allow volunteers to choose opportunities that fit their interests. - The department plans volunteer opportunities at the start of each season. - The department offers opportunities across different fields to match individual interests and the association’s needs. - The department follows up on volunteer delivery in person or remotely. - The department prepares and evaluates volunteers, certifies volunteer hours and rewards outstanding volunteers. - The association also runs Namaa, an initiative focused on awareness and building a culture of volunteering. - Namaa uses planned field visits to various sites and organizations to highlight volunteering’s role in community development and to open communication channels with the public. - Friends of Patients Association in Unaizah is a charitable association registered with the National Center for Non-Profit Sector Development under No. 3625, dated 23/8/1442 AH. - The association provides assistance to patients regardless of nationality. - Its support includes financial and in-kind aid, medical devices and supplies, medications, diagnosis and treatment costs, and patient transportation. - The association also addresses patients’ social needs under the principle of social solidarity. - More information is available at the association’s website.

Between the lines: - The award signals official backing for volunteer programs that are tied to measurable service delivery, not just community outreach. - The association’s emphasis on structured planning, tracking and certification suggests a more formal approach to volunteering than one-off participation. - The Namaa initiative shows the organization is using volunteer outreach as both a service tool and a public education effort.

What's next: - The association said the recognition will encourage it to keep expanding and improving its volunteer work. - The volunteering department is likely to continue seasonal planning, volunteer matching and performance review as part of its operating model. - The broader benchmark remains Saudi Vision 2030’s 2030 volunteer target.