Doha: The Qatar Foundation for Social Work (QFSW) organized a significant dialogue session focusing on technology as a social enabler, aimed at supporting families and promoting mental health for comprehensive development. This initiative was in partnership with the Executive Bureau of the Council of Ministers of Labor and the Social Affairs Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, and was part of the activities of the Second World Summit for Social Development.
According to Qatar News Agency, the session underscored the critical role technology plays in enhancing family and social cohesion, improving access to psychological and social services, and highlighted pioneering local and Gulf-based models that utilize digital solutions to benefit users.
The session also addressed the challenges and risks associated with the misuse of technology and artificial intelligence, particularly their impact on mental health and family stability.
Shaima Ahmed Al Janahi, QFSW’s Director of Strategic Planning, stressed in her opening remarks that technology has become an essential element in modern social work. She advocated for its use in ways that contribute to sustainable development while maintaining social values.
Eng. Jabr Rashid Al Nuaimi, Director of the Family Consulting Center (Wifaq), shared insights on the center’s digital transformation in providing family counseling. He emphasized that digitization is crucial for ensuring services are accessible to all societal segments efficiently and promptly.
Al Nuaimi described how the center launched various interactive digital platforms that enable families to communicate with social and psychological specialists remotely, maintaining confidentiality and overcoming geographical barriers to provide timely support.
The digital shift also allowed the center to create a comprehensive database, enhancing understanding of family challenges and aiding the development of preventive programs based on statistical analysis and artificial intelligence.
He highlighted that this initiative reflects a national vision that embraces technology as a tool to enhance family stability and achieve sustainable social development, urging the exchange of Gulf experiences to develop advanced digital counseling systems.
Manal Ahmed Al Mannai, Executive Director of the Center for Empowerment and Care of the Elderly (Ehsan), emphasized the importance of technology in empowering older adults. She reviewed the center’s digital education initiatives that help seniors use smart applications to access health and social services easily and flexibly.
Al Mannai explained that digital empowerment improves seniors’ quality of life, supports their mental health, and combats social isolation. The programs aim to build an inclusive digital society, encouraging active participation of seniors in public life and promoting intergenerational communication.
She noted that Ehsan’s initiatives align with Qatar’s vision of a cohesive society, where technology is a means to integrate seniors through knowledge, interaction, and participation.
In a comprehensive intervention on technology’s role in preventing domestic violence, Fadel Mohammed Al Kaabi, Acting Executive Director of the Social Protection and Rehabilitation Center (Aman), discussed how digital transformation presents both opportunities and challenges for protecting individuals.
Al Kaabi described Aman’s development of electronic platforms and a hotline for confidential and safe communication for women and children experiencing violence or abuse. The center also launched digital awareness programs focused on safe internet use.
He stressed the need for coordinated efforts among social institutions, cybersecurity, education, and media to address cyberspace challenges. He asserted that when used ethically and legally, technology can effectively empower individuals and protect families.
Khalil Bouhazaa, Director of Labor and Social Development at the Executive Bureau, discussed Gulf frameworks that support families through digital solutions and smart social policies. He highlighted joint Gulf efforts in developing unified platforms to enhance social service effectiveness and quality of life.
Bouhazaa noted the GCC states’ progress toward an integrated digital social system based on innovation and predictive analytics to address family needs and enhance social protection.
The dialogue session concluded with participants emphasizing responsible technology use and intensified collaboration among Gulf and international institutions to promote digital social innovation, mental health, family support, and a stable societal environment amid rapid technological change.
This session, part of QFSW’s involvement in the Second World Summit for Social Development, reaffirms its role as an active national partner in supporting sustainable development initiatives.