Ezwah Forum and Award for Community Participation, sponsored by His Highness Prince Dr. Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Mayor of Riyadh Region, held its first panel session today with the participation of a distinguished group of leaders and experts in the field of community engagement. The session addressed key strategic themes related to social policies, quality of life, and the sustainability of the non-profit sector.

The session was opened by Mr. Ahmed Al-Majed, Assistant Deputy Minister for Community Development at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, who spoke about the government’s role in shaping social policies. He noted that the government has established comprehensive frameworks concerned with social development, volunteering, and youth initiatives, in addition to empowering the elderly and persons with disabilities, thereby contributing to enhancing their quality of life.

Mr. Khalid Al-Bakar, CEO of the Quality of Life Program, then highlighted the program’s efforts in achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. He emphasized that developing diverse and high-quality options in entertainment, culture, and sports contributes to strengthening community participation, supporting the national economy, and creating new job opportunities.

Meanwhile, Eng. Abdulmohsen Al-Turki, Executive Vice President for Growth at the National Center for the Development of the Non-Profit Sector, discussed the importance of sustainability within the sector. He stressed that trust, integration, and clarity of roles are key pillars for improving the sector’s efficiency and achieving tangible social impact.

This session comes within the objectives of the Ezwah Forum, which aims to promote the values of community participation, encourage organizations and individuals to develop innovative initiatives that improve quality of life within neighborhoods, and strengthen the principle of active partnership between the Municipality and residents—all in line with Riyadh’s strategy to empower the community to contribute to urban development.