Page 233 - FDF QUARTER 2 REPORT 2025 (ENGLISH)

6/9/25, 11:11 AM FDF organises dialogue sessions to enhance quality of life for senior citizens in Abu Dhabi - Middle East Business News and Inform…
His Excellency Abdulrahman Al Baloushi, Director of the Strategic Planning and Institutional
Development Department at FDF, emphasised that the series of interactive discussion forums’

focus on this vital community group aligns with the Foundation’s recently updated mandates
and its continuous efforts to improve social services for senior citizens.

In addition, H.E. Al Baloushi pointed out that these forums seek to reinforce community
engagement in future planning, identify the service and program needs of seniors and ensure

that comprehensive, high-quality services are offered. This move comes in alignment with the

vision and directives of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, ‘Mother of the Nation,’ Chairwoman
of the General Women’s Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and
Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), who

constantly supported the provision of a supportive environment for elderly community which
boost their societal role, safeguard their dignity and ensure continued contributions.

H.E. Al Baloushi also reaffirmed that those forums stand as a vital platform for direct

communication with special community groups, ensuring a deeper understanding of their
challenges and aspirations. They offer an ideal stage for the exchange of ideas and proposals,

supporting evidence-based decision making. Such a participatory approach contributes to the
development of social policies and programs that shows the actual needs of the local
community and highlights FDF’s unwavering commitment to ensure innovation and integration

in offering its services.

In addition, H.E. Al Baloushi highlighted that FDF has employed the focus group method as a
structured tool for collecting qualitative data from participants. He explained that each session

included an introduction to the forum’s goals and pillars and division into smaller groups led by
specialised staff members to discuss specific questions leveraging a precise scientific approach.

The responses were recorded and assessed using the Mentimeter system, which helped to
exhibit results while also allowing a direct and transparent communication with attendees and
enhancing the forum’s overall result.

H.E. Al Baloushi said, “The Foundation has leveraged a comprehensive approach, merging

qualitative analysis to open-ended responses with data analysis tools to find percentages and
averages for closed-ended questions to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the results. The

series commenced with the first forum held at Al Mirfa Centre in February 2025, under the
theme ‘Assessing the Needs of Senior Citizens.’ The event convened 23 senior citizens and their

companions and ensured their active participation. During the session, attendees looked into
existing and proposed services and shared their perspectives and opinions transparently in a

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