The Speech of

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The Speech of

HRH Princess Loulwah Al Faisal Vice Chair of Effat University Board of Founders & Board of Trustees, and General

Supervisor of the University

in Effat University 20

^th

Anniversary and the

Graduation Ceremony

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ﺔﻴﻟﺎﻔﺘﺣﺍ

ﻯﺮﻛﺬﻟﺍ ﺮﺸﻌﻟﺍ ﻭﻥ ﺄﺘﻟ ﺖﻔﻋ ﺔﻌﻣﺎﺟ ﺲﻴﺳ ﺮﺧﻵﺍ ﻯﺩﺎﲨ2

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In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful and peace and blessings be upon Prophet Mohammad.

Your Royal Highnesses and Excellencies, Respected Parents and Guardians,

Effat Family, Dear Graduates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

May the mercy and blessings of Allah be bestowed on you!

We stand today in celebration of 20 years on the establishment of Effat University. Let us take a moment to thank and praise God for his blessings and kindness, for helping us serve the nation. Let us take a moment to thank and appreciate everyone who contributed to the building of this Great Institution, and to offer heartfelt greetings to Effat’s students, her daughters, the daughters of Effat the woman and Effat the university.

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Dear Audience,

Today we celebrate a success story … About women, exclusively.

The edifice before you stands not only on foundations of stone and steel, but on what is mightier than that. It stands on the shoulders of an exceptional group of women.

Success stories are rarely without the presence of a central woman, and by central I mean that the woman’s presence in a particular place and time is so essential that the mission intended to be accomplished cannot be done without her.

What distinguishes our story tonight is that all its joints and curves are women. Each woman has a story with its own curve, all uniting in 1999 to construct the first women's university in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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The principal curve in our story was Queen Effat, God bless her soul

Since she is my mother, let me dwell on her story.

I will speak as a witness of this story from the beginning, a witnesss of all the stages of formation, from the inception of the idea to the first batch of graduates from Effat College (graduating in 1423 corresponding to 2003).

Queen Effat, God bless her soul, had many qualities, which one finds in central historical figures. But her most

distinguishing trait was her capacity for listening, not only to her community and those around her, but also to an inward call, which no one else could hear, a voice traveling through time to tell about a future no one but she herself had seen or expected to see at that time.

She heard it and answered it with diligence and determination,

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unheedful of the social and economic obstacles of that time.

She worked faithfully and conscientiously (yet another quality in her). But I remember how she would stop to listen to all views, some recording apprehensions and objections,

respectfully and open heartedly, taking in what is constructive and discarding what is trivial, in order to complete her work quietly and competently.

"She was never discourteous, never clashed or fought with her community. She believed in reason and logic and that they are the areas which no one would ever contest."

When Allah paved the way, she began to gather her team, a team we call “The Three Superheroes,” E3

Having explained what is unique in Effat Al-Thunayan, please allow me to explain what distinguishes the team of founders of Effat University.

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Dr. Samira Islam Dr. Marcia Grant

Dr.Haifa Reda Jamal Al-Lail

Let me start with Professor Samira Islam, the first Saudi woman to receive a doctorate degree in the complex scientific field of pharmacology, and the first Saudi individual to obtain professorship in the same specialization.

She is also the founder of the Faculty of Science, which she established next to the Faculty of Medicine.

In addition, she was the first woman and the second Saudi citizen to assume a formal position at the World Health Organization (WHO) as an Adviser to the Organization’s Regional Office. She has received the Makkah Award for Scientific and Technical Excellence and has published more

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than 75 papers, 32 of which in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

What truly distinguishes Professor Samira, and what is locally unique about her, is that her work constitutes a milestone in the country’s scientific and educational marathon, not only for the benefit of Saudi women, but also for Saudi people in general.

When Dr. Samira joined Effat College, her help was phenomenal. She formed the academic team, designed the curriculum, supervised the buildings, and laid out the primary building blocks in a record time to launch the College having employed the finest individuals who fulfilled the College’s mission in the best way possible.

One of the things that distinguish women from men is their universality. When a woman is born to the world, the world’s

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children become hers, the world’s women become her sisters- The things that keep us, women, together are many more than the things that keep us apart. It is here that one finds the merits of Dr. Marsha Grant’s story, in the things she accomplished when Effat was being formed.

When Dr. Grant assumed the position of the first Dean of Effat College in August 1999, she was able to nurture and

strengthen the College’s roots, and to direct its tender leaves towards a global education. I remember telling her that my mother wanted to inaugurate Effat College and to commence teaching at the beginning of September of the academic year 1999.

She was surprised at first, saying that it was such a difficult task; but upon reflection, she said that we ought to implement the Queen’s requests and fulfil her desires.

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Effat College was launched with due speed, proving to me that we could perform miracles if we want to, and with God's permission.

We realized my mother's wishes by admitting 37 students, a director of student affairs, and two faculty members.

Dr Marcia made it possible for me to show my mother before her death the pictures of the 37 admitted students.

When Dr. Grant assumed the position of the first Dean of Effat College in August 1999, she was able to nurture and strengthen the College’s roots, and to direct its tender leaves towards a global education. I remember telling her that my mother wanted to inaugurate Effat College and to commence teaching at the beginning of September of the academic year 1999. She was surprised at first, saying that it was such a difficult task; but upon reflection, she said that we ought to

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implement the Queen’s requests and fulfill her desires.

Dr Marcia, I assure you that Effat, the airplane, as you used to describe it, is still soaring high above the clouds, all with God’shelp and yours.

Now we come to the vibrant heart of Effat University,

Dr. Haifa Reda Jamal Allail. Dr. Haifa joined our Effat team in 1998 as my consultant; then she undertook the College’s leadership in 2000. A graduate from Dar Al-Hanan, Dr Haifa returned to us after 21 years of studying for her bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees in the United States of America, and after assuming a leadership position at King Abdulaziz University.

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She returned from a king's university to a queen's university, to a home that was waiting for her to have it equipped with the academic tools and practical experience, which paved the way for her leadership duties as President of Effat University in 2009.

Dr. Marcia, I assure you that Effat, the airplane, as you used to describe it, is still soaring high, above the clouds, all with God’s help and yours.

Thanks to everyone who has responded to the call.

Today I want to show you the answer to that call

I will show you the response to a question that was asked seventy years ago.

Graduates of Effat today and the graduates of the future;

You are the present answer to that call.

You are the answer to a question laid out seventy years ago.

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Why? was the question.

Why do you want to educate them? Why do you want to employ them? Why?

The question was asked in preparation for the present, for a time when Saudi women occupy their natural position in public life to construct and develop our country; a time in which they forge ahead fully prepared, along with their fellow brothers, to form an impervious shield for our homeland.

Congratulations to us for having you

Congratulations to the country and to the present in which you are an integral part.

It is as though I see her put down her pen and smile triumphantly.

Effat Al-Thunayan heard the call and answered it in word and deed, in perseverance and patience.

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Diligence, forbearance, and proficiency: These are the legacies of Effat Al-Thunayan, may God have mercy on her.

As for my advice to you, it is as follows:

Open your minds and hearts to listen and to be mindful, you may hear your own call. You may hear a voice that has travelled through time waiting for a response. Project your voice and dreams onto a future no one may see except you.

God save you and guide you to what he likes and approves.

May the mercy and blessings of Allah be bestowed on you!