Zakat Fund plans to raise Dh5m

Amount will be used to fund university education of less-privileged students

Last updated: November 08, 2018 | 03:08

2 MIN READ

Abu Dhabi: As part of its efforts to help less-privileged students in obtaining a university education, the Zakat Fund in Abu Dhabi has launched one of its latest initiatives concerning students in an Abu Dhabi based university in the capital.

The campaign is meant to raise an amount of Dh5 million for students at the Abu Dhabi University (ADU), and will cover their tuition fees.

Students have to meet certain criteria to be eligible for scholarships. Besides obtaining an average of 90 per cent or higher in their high school, students also need to maintain a high average during the course of their university education, in order to retain funds, said a Zakat fund spokesman. It is also available to pupils of all nationalities and genders.

"Zakat Fund helps students all over the UAE. Currently, we are helping 59 students for the coming 2010 academic year. We provide them with an amount of Dh 50,000 for the period of four years," the spokesman told Gulf News.

"We have yet to determine how many students from ADU will be included within this initiative, as people are continuing to apply. Out of the 50 students that we have interviewed, which are studying in different institutions in the UAE, 30 have been confirmed, and the other 29 are still undergoing interviews," he added.

This effort was the result of a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year by Abdullah Aqeeda Al Muhairi, Secretary-General of Zakat Fund, and Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of ADU.

"With the spirit of generosity and giving that we enjoy during Ramadan, we feel it is the perfect time to help more needy students realising their dreams. Forgetting to aid those students will lead to losing excellent minds that would help shape the future of our country," Al Muhairi said.

"Our strategic partnership with Zakat Fund is one way of expanding the education horizon of top students by offering them with alternative financial aid programmes," Al Dhaheri added.