Sharjah: H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has donated USD1 million to the Children for Dignity Foundation from Malaysia to fuel their on-going efforts to offer educational and support services to the marginalised and displaced communities in Asia and MENA region.
This came during the honouring ceremony of the second Sharjah International Award for Refugee Advocacy and Support held last evening at the Sharjah Police Science Academy in the presence of H.H. Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) and UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugees, and Filippo Grande, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
The prestigious award was given by the Sharjah Ruler to Dignity for Children Foundation from Malaysia, selected for its performance as a leading humanitarian institution in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, MENA, region, providing support and advocacy services to refugees and the displaced, and in recognition for its role and commitment towards thousands of families in Sentul, Malaysia, by providing a safe environment for their children’s education.
Congratulating Dignity for Children for winning the award, Sheikha Jawaher stressed that the value of humanitarian work lies in its neutrality, continuity and impact – the core values that have echoed in the Foundation’s efforts for the past 20 years, as they have worked relentlessly to save the lives of displaced children and refugees from ignorance and poverty, and given them not just educational opportunities, but have also helped them find opportunities to use that education to seek employment and contribute to their communities.
She said, “Illuminating the path of others is a human duty and an ethical imperative. Without this effort, life will not have any meaning. The importance of Sharjah International Award for Refugee Advocacy and Support is that helps bring these human torches, who work for a better present and a brighter future, before the eyes of the world. The award highlights the stories of individuals who have suffered the conditions of forced migration, and celebrates the relentless efforts of those individuals and organisations who lead them towards happy and safe lives, overcoming the past and look with hope towards a better future.”
The foundation was honoured with the prestigious international award in recognition of its outstanding contribution and philanthropic efforts over the past two decades in caring and supporting refugees and investing in younger generations by providing them with the necessary resources to pursue their academic education to become active partners in changing the reality of their communities. Since its very early beginnings, 20 years ago, the Malaysian foundation has immensely focused on education as instrumental in fighting poverty and overcoming the harsh realities of life.
The Sharjah International Award for Refugees Advocacy and Support was launched in 2017 by TBHF the Sharjah-based global humanitarian charity dedicated to helping refugees and people in need worldwide in cooperation with the UNHCR. It is awarded to individuals or organisations who implement pioneering and influential initiatives that have had a positive and tangible impact on refugees within Asia and the Mena region.