Al Ghurair sets up Dh100m fund for refugee education
dubai — An Emirati businessman has set up a Dh100 million fund that will support the education of refugee youth in Jordan and Lebanon, and Arab children affected by wars and disasters residing in the UAE. The Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair Refugee Education Fund will run for three years and support the education of at least 5,000 children and youth.
The fund was set up by Emirati businessman and philanthropist Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, on the occasion of the World Refugee Day on June 20.
International funding for refugee education has not been able to keep up with the vast need in the largest host countries.
Al Ghurair said: “I established this fund during the Year of Zayed because I believe that philanthropists have a role in helping to support one of the most acute challenges of our region: Lack of education opportunities for young people who need it the most. Young people whose education has been interrupted by conflict deserve a chance to rebuild their lives and have a shot at a good future.”
The fund will support high-impact education programmes at the secondary, vocational and tertiary levels of education for refugee youth in Jordan and Lebanon. The grants provided by the fund will also support children of families who temporarily reside in the UAE due to wars and disasters in their home countries, but are unable to afford school fees.
The new fund will award grants through a competitive selection process to education institutions and non-governmental organisations working with refugee youth.
This first round of grants to partner organisations in Jordan, Lebanon and the UAE will be announced prior to the start of the new school year. The next call for proposals will be in early 2019.
Applauding the move, Filippo
Philanthropists have a role in helping to support one of the most acute challenges of our region”
Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Emirati businessman and philanthropist
Grande, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said: “We welcome the generous commitment by Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair. This significant contribution is in line with the UNHCR’s direction towards a whole-of-society approach where individuals and organisations work hand-in-hand to ensure that people who have been forced to flee are able to rebuild their lives and take control of their futures.
“The fund highlights the importance of the Arab world’s business community in creating a positive impact through supporting the region’s displaced communities.”
Gordon Brown, United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, said there can be “no better investment” in the future of the
The fund would reach thousands through education institutions and non-governmental organisations.”
Maysa Jalbout, CEO, Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education
Arab region than to support the education of the most vulnerable — refugee children and youth. “I have long advocated for new partnerships and solutions to address funding education for refugee children and youth.
This important initiative will make a difference in the lives of thousands of young people and I am encouraged that other business leaders will follow.”
Elaborating on how the fund will be managed, Maysa Jalbout, chief executive officer of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education, said the fund would reach thousands of children through partnerships with education institutions and non-governmental organisations. “This initiative is aligned with the values and legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed, whose humanitarian impact transcended boundaries and sowed the seeds for several of today’s philanthropic efforts.”
According to the Unicef, over 80 per cent of out-of-school children and youth in the region are affected by conflict. The Syrian conflict has severely exacerbated the situation with 2 million children out of school and hundreds of thousands of youth unable to continue their education.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com