i have written twice before about the lebanese media figure ricardo karam. the last time was about his meeting with a lebanese woman who lost her husband and two sons, while she and her daughter were seriously injured during the israeli attacks on southern lebanon.
the meeting took place at her request, and ricardo shared a post on his x account about his moving encounter with her, which inspired me to make a donation to her, a donation that was also contributed by some kind readers.
i later met ricardo in beirut over dinner, and he invited me to attend the annual “takreem” ceremony, which is being held this year in cairo. it was the first time i had heard about the organization, although its organizers had previously held their last annual event in kuwait.
ricardo karam is a prominent lebanese media figure, producer, and writer, known for his talk shows featuring interviews with international personalities.
fifteen years ago, he founded the “takreem” organization, or endowment, which has become one of his most significant achievements, aiming to celebrate and highlight arab excellence.
he invited a group of distinguished men and women from various fields including art, social work, culture, and finance, to collaborate with him in establishing and supporting takreem. the organization presents a series of prestigious awards to outstanding individuals in areas such as leadership, education, business, humanitarian work, and cultural and scientific innovation. the awards aim to empower youth and women through a ceremony that matches the grandeur, prestige, and rigorous standards of international award events like the palme d’or, the emmys, and the oscars.
takreem is the centerpiece of a larger and highly successful project. ricardo’s ambitions are both high and legitimate, and the team supporting him, from the board of directors to the board of trustees, brings significant expertise and capability.
takreem aims to showcase pioneers and innovators, presenting them as inspiring role models, far removed from the negative stereotypes often associated with the region in global media.
at the recent awards ceremony held at the historic abdeen palace, i witnessed remarkable examples of these individuals, whom we should all take pride in. their selection was no easy task, and there is no doubt that the board of trustees conducted a rigorous process to shortlist the deserving recipients of the prestigious takreem endowment award.
the awards have previously been held in various capitals and cities, including beirut, doha, manama, cairo, paris, marrakech, dubai, and kuwait city, with subsequent editions attended by a distinguished group of figures.
some may be tempted to compare the takreem awards to the nobel prizes or the king faisal foundation prizes. while there are differences in scale, funding, and selection mechanisms, the takreem endowment will continue to gain prominence and media exposure over time. what is truly needed is a permanent platform to celebrate arab achievement, even if it follows a different model from other international awards.
the success of takreem middle east inspired ricardo to establish complementary initiatives, such as takreem america, aimed at connecting arab americans with their roots.
as a non-profi t organization, takreem rejects mediocrity and strives for the highest level of professionalism. it emphasizes giving its awards significant moral and media weight, far beyond the financial incentives offered by other entities.
its most recent ceremony in egypt was truly magnificent and meticulously organized.
the organizers succeeded in creating an event attended by hundreds from around the world, a remarkable achievement in a city like cairo, where everyone left with only positive experiences.
choosing cairo and its venues for takreem’s events proved to be an excellent decision. everything ran more smoothly than i had anticipated. my wife and i spent a wonderful few days there, filled with cultural discussions and the formation of new friendships. it was a clear message of what can be achieved when intentions are sincere. there are many figures with strong will and sincere hearts capable of building a better future.