Campaign urges donors to “feed the minds” of over 1.2 million refugee
children through Education
After a highly successful first phase in which the Big Heart Campaign
provided life-saving medical interventions for over 265,000 Syrian refugees and
gave more than 400,000 others vital food and cash, the campaign is now
progressing to its third phase which focuses on an equally urgent need:
education. This will be launched during a pulsating 10-day fun-filled event
dubbed “No Lost Generation- Journey of Hope”,
from 10-20 February at Dubai Mall’s Souq Arena. The event will be packed with
fun activities for both children and adults, with special appearances by
celebrity supporters.
Since its inception in
June 2013, the Big Heart Campaign has achieved numerous milestones in just six
short months – under the guidance of its Patron, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher
bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Syrian Refugee Children. Approximately
three quarters of the 2.4 million Syrian refugees registered by the UNHCR are
women and children. Among the many initiatives, the ‘Warm Hearts’ winter
campaign saved hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees from the frost-ravaged
sub-zero temperatures of Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria itself, by raising
urgent funds for warm shelters, blankets and clothing.
Commenting on the
upcoming launch, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher explained that the Big Heart Campaign
continuously evolves to respond to refugees’ needs, and education is the latest
in a series of phases targeting priority areas: “Our ever-supportive donors
have helped us to feed & shelter refugees, but now it’s time to feed their
minds through education. Children are born with a hunger for knowledge and a
thirst to satisfy their endless curiosity, so education is just as vital as the
air they breathe. Let our big hearts beat as one and let us work together to turn
young refugees into future humanitarians.”
The first round of “on-again, off-again” peace talks in Geneva between
the warring sides has recently collapsed, and refugees are not expecting a
quick resolution. According to Valerie Amos, the UN’s Chief Aid Coordinator: “While the discussions continue to try to find a political solution to the
crisis, ordinary men, women and children are dying needlessly across the
country, and others are desperate for food, clean water and medical care.”
Lack of education threatens to produce a Lost
Generation of Syrian refugees. The Big Heart Campaign has come to the
realization that while the three-year crisis drags on, it is time to give the
children a more sustainable solution that empowers them in the long run through
education. Rt. Hon Gordon Brown (UN Special Envoy for Global Education) shares
the goal of educating these children and supports The Big Heart Campaign, he
said, “By fighting for the fundamental right to education for the children of
Syria we can establish the principle that even in the most hopeless of
situations learning can continue.”
The campaign for Education will continue till 7th of May 2014.
Donors are urgently requested to send funds through ‘Salam Ya Seghar’, endorsed
by HH Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi (Wife of His Highness, the Ruler of Sharjah and
UNHCR Eminent Advocate).
Bank Details:
Account Name: Salam Ya
Seghar “For Syrian Refugee Children”
Account Number: 00344 3043 0012
(Kindly write the bank
account number behind your cheque)
IBAN: AE5804 100000 3443043 0012
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