Sharjah: Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, emphasised that “education is one of the basic rights of every child, including Syrian Refugee children”, at a meeting with Baroness Floella Benjamin, University of Exeter’s Chancellor, the ceremonial head of the University.
“The Syrian crisis has deprived many children of waking up early morning to go to their schools that were destroyed... Deprived them of benefiting from their teachers who mentor them in the basic principles of life... And even deprived them of playing with their friends who they do not know if they are still alive,” Shaikha Jawaher said.
Shaikha Jawaher met Benjamin last Wednesday, at Shaikha Jawaher’s executive office to discuss the rapid changes in the educational environment.
The meeting highlighted developing educational outcomes by focusing on the quality of teaching methods, as well as improving the learning environment for children, and enhancing their chances to join the educational march.
Shaikha Jawaher added that “it seems like providing appropriate educational services for each refugee child is a hard task or even impossible in the present tragic circumstances, but with your big hearts nothing will be impossible. Supporting those children who have been waiting for long time to hear their school bells ring and stand early morning to salute the flag will make a difference in their lives and give them hope for a better future”.
Shaikha Jawaher appealed to individuals and institutions in the UAE society and the Arab world to support efforts to improve educational opportunities for Syrian refugee children, provide schools with necessary requirements to perform their educational role, and attract talented teachers who will contribute in elevating the level of academic achievements of the students.
Benjamin praised the efforts of the “Big Heart” campaign that was launched by Shaikha Jawaher to help Syrian refugee children, and enhance their opportunities for schooling, and ensure their access to appropriate educational services.
The “Big Heart for Syrian refugee children” campaign was launched on June 20 coinciding with the World Refugee Day by Shaikha Jawaher in her capacity as the Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and the Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), to help Syrian refugee children who have been torn from their homeland.
