Sharjah: The “Big Heart for Syrian refugee children” campaign was launched on June 20 in Sharjah, coinciding with World Refugee Day.
The campaign was launched by 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, 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.
The donations from the UAE will go a long way in providing Syrian refugee children with life-saving humanitarian assistance including food, shelter, health care and education.
The Big Heart campaign continues until the end of Ramadan. People wishing to help can contribute through different channels; text messages, bank transfers or by buying packages.
The campaign has seen a lot of positive response from individuals and various entities since its launch and it continues to attract donations. The largest donation was made by Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairwoman for the Family Development Foundation and of the General Women’s Union, who donated $10 million (Dh36.7 million).
The latest contributions include the Sharjah Ladies Club’ (SLC) two-day charity bazaar and suhour event that raised funds to support the Big Heart Campaign. The event was inaugurated by Shaikha Budour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Investment Authority (Shurooq), and Deputy Chairperson of SLC. Dh100,000 was donated by SLC, and there were other donations made, including a Dh1 million donation and another of Dh50,000.
Sharjah Transport has helped promote the campaign by displaying stickers on 1,000 Sharjah taxis and buses that travel between emirates.
“Without action, words of support will remain exactly that: only words. Syrian refugees need action, and they need it fast; so we are deeply touched by the public movement and contributions to the ‘Big Heart for Syrian refugee children’ campaign,” said Noora Al No’man, Director of the Executive Office of Shaikha Jawaher.
