Young cancer patients will experience the joy of Eid Al Adha as the Bahrain Future Society for Youth prepares a heartwarming day of fun, laughter and play dedicated to them.
The event will be held under the society’s Smile initiative – a programme that provides psychosocial support to children with cancer and their parents in Bahrain.
The society is presently finalising the venue and only those children who are medically able to participate will attend, according to a Smile volunteer overseeing the effort.
For those unable to join the festivities, the celebration will still reach them. A delegation from the society will visit young patients recovering at home, bearing Eid gifts and warm wishes.
Launched in 2012, the Bahrain Future Society for Youth’s Smile initiative won in the Support and Care for Community category at the seventh edition of the Shaikha Fatima Programme for Excellence and Community Intelligence Awards in Abu Dhabi last year. The category recognises innovative initiatives that help raise health awareness among communities and play an important role in addressing challenges.
Society chairman Sabah Al Zayani highlighted the unwavering dedication of Smile members and volunteers on the occasion. He underscored the support that government ministries, agencies and other private institutions in the kingdom extend, nodding to Bahrain’s ongoing commitment towards social and community causes, especially children battling cancer.
A young ‘warrior’ during a previous Smile delegation visit to Salmaniya Medical Complex
Cancer is a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body where abnormal cells grow uncontrollably. According to the World Health Organisation, cancer is a leading cause of death among children and adolescents, with an estimated 400,000, aged from zero to 19 years, developing the illness. The most common types of childhood cancer include leukemias, brain tumours, lymphomas and solid tumours such as neuroblastoma and Wilms tumour.
The ‘Smile Shop’ launched last year supports children with cancer by selling a variety of merchandise available online and at select retail hubs across the country. The products include bags, bottles, books and mugs, all carrying striking designs by Bahraini artists, with 80 per cent of the proceeds from the sales set to help the cause.
Furthermore, the Smile initiative’s ‘Kids R Golden’ campaign is equally popular in the community. In 2024, 47 children who successfully battled cancer were honoured at a graduation ceremony held by the society as part of the 11th edition of the campaign, which was held at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) – Medical University of Bahrain, Busaiteen.
In the past, Smile has successfully collaborated with private sector and government entities, particularly the Health Ministry and Government Hospitals, as well as the Social Development Ministry, to spread awareness about the cause and raise funds for children suffering from the disease.
The upcoming annual Eid Al Adha campaign comes days after Future Society for Youth announced the election of seven members to its new board of directors for the term 2026 to 2028. Elections were held at the society’s headquarters in Mahooz, where 10 members contested the board seats.
The newly elected board held its first meeting this month, chaired by Mr Al Zayani. Vice chairperson Dr Amal Al Qallaf, treasurer Yousif Al Sayegh and secretary Ali Sabt attended as well.
Also present at the meeting were Naeema Taheri, who has been assigned to oversee strategic planning and quality, Ali Al Alawi to lead public and media relations and Rana Abdulmohsen to manage the Smile initiative.
Mr Al Zayani noted that the diversity of academic and professional backgrounds among the board members will provide the society with added momentum as it works to shape its strategy and deliver initiatives that serve the Bahraini community.
“We are entering a new phase in which we will build on more than 24 years of achievements in the society’s journey. Over the coming two years, we look forward to further developing our existing flagship initiatives, including Smile and MicroShabab, while also launching at least two major new initiatives. This will further reinforce the Future Society for Youth’s leading role in civil society and voluntary work in our beloved kingdom,” he added.
MicroShabab is a platform for youth in Bahrain to interact with entrepreneurs and leaders in the public and private sector.
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