Education Above All Foundation through their Al Fakhoora programme partner with Qatar Fund for Development
and UNDP to rebuild 12 schools across the Gaza Strip through their Right to Education Programme
Students at Shohada’ Al Maghaazi Secondary Girls’ School in Gaza celebrating the new classrooms
Gaza Strip, 29 September 2016 – As part of continuous efforts to support education in the Gaza Strip, Education Above All (EAA) Foundation through their Al Fakhoora programme has partnered with the Qatar Fund for Development (QDF) and UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People to launch the first phase of the Right to Education Programme, successfully rebuilding 65 classrooms in 12 government schools.
The programme, which reconstructs and rehabilitates educational facilities damaged and destroyed during the 2014 hostilities on Gaza, will reach over 600,000 Palestinian young people by 2020. The USD 21 million Right to Education Programme aims to restore hope for young people living in Gaza by providing them the opportunity of education and increasing their prospects of employment.
The programme will target 51 educational institutions in total, including: decimated schools, partially damaged universities, schools and vocational training centres. Each classroom is carefully planned to make them fit for the future with multi-purpose halls to serve as emergency shelters during crisis, the installation of solar cells for renewable energy sources to address electricity cuts, and sustainable water and sanitation facilities.
Fahad Al-Sulaiti, CEO of Education Above All, said, “The right to education is a basic human right for all, and we must facilitate access to education in Gaza, regardless of existing challenges. Education Above All Foundation through our Al Fakhoora programme aims to unlock the potential of a new generation of marginalised youth to become educated, professionally skilled and inspirational civic leaders of the future. The Right to Education Programme, which we are proudly supporting, provides much needed improvements in local school provision to boost learning in the area, allowing current and future students a chance to pursue their goals.”
The inauguration ceremony took place at Shohada’ Al Maghaazi Secondary Girls’ School, where six classrooms have been added. This extension will enable 850 female students to receive quality education and allow the 68 staff members to work in an improved school environment. The ceremony was attended by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education; Mr Shadi Saleh, Al Fakhoora Representative in Gaza; Mr Roberto Valent, UNDP Special Representative of the Administrator, as well as community leaders and representatives from local and international organizations.
Mr. Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Kuwari, Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development said, “We believe that education is the cornerstone of comprehensive and sustainable development. That’s why we have focused our efforts to support this sector in Palestine, through several partnerships of which we are immensely proud. The contributions of our Fund have enabled the reconstruction of various schools that were entirely or partially destroyed across the Gaza Strip, which has a measurable impact on reviving the hopes of Palestinian children.
“The Right to Education Programme comes at a critical time for the Gaza population who is suffering from over 41.7% of unemployment. With Al Fakhoora’s generous contribution, we are able to create jobs and provide quality education to students in Gaza to develop life skills and empower them with knowledge for now and in the future,” said UNDP Representative Roberto Valent. ” QDF and Education Above All Foundation’s generous contribution through their Al Fakhoora programme is not only an investment that fulfils basic human rights of those living in Gaza, but also contributes to the future of Palestinian development,” he added.
The Right to Education Programme rebuilds schools adhering to the Building Back Better (BBB) principles which promote sustainable building improvements to strengthen institutions, increase resilience and reduce community vulnerabilities. The programme seeks to integrate disaster risk reduction into longer-term sustainable development to strengthen and rehabilitate existing infrastructure to insulate schools from potential risks resulting from natural disaster and conflict.
Notes to editors:
About the Al Fakhoora Programme
Al Fakhoora is a programme of Education Above All Foundation that works to provide young Palestinians with education opportunities in Gaza. Working in partnership with local and international NGOs in Gaza, Al Fakhoora focuses on scholarship and empowerment programmes, reconstruction and rehabilitation of education facilities and providing psychosocial support to youth.
About Education Above All
Education Above All (EAA) is a global initiative founded in 2012 by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. EAA’s aim is to build a global movement that contributes to human, social and economic development through quality education and other welfare programmes and initiatives. With a particular focus on areas affected by poverty, conflict and disaster, EAA champions the needs of children and youth and empowers them to be active members of their communities. By meeting the demand for education, EAA equips them to support sustainable development and to nurture environments of peace, security, justice and prosperity. EAA is the umbrella organisation overseeing three core programmes: Educate A Child, Al Fakhoora and Protect Education in Insecurity and Conflict (PEIC), as well as one special project, the Kakuma Project.
About the Qatar Fund for Development
The Qatar Fund for Development (QFD) gives priority to the education sector in developing countries where the Fund operates through financial grants or joint agreements.
Guided by its vision of “giving hope and promoting peace and justice through sustainable and inclusive development”, QDF has continuously supported the Palestinian people and fulfilled the State of Qatar’s commitments towards them, where the Fund seeks to empower Palestinians in the health, education, infrastructure, and economic development sectors.
QDF emphasizes the importance of projects and initiatives that provide Palestinian children with the right to education and access to safe educational environment. This project that is being implemented in partnership with Education Above All (EAA), Al Fakhoora program, and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is considered as a real step towards the enhancement of the education sector in Palestine.
About UNDP
UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. For more information on UNDP’s work in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip, visit www.ps.undp.org.
Document Sources: Qatar Fund for Development, UNDP Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Subject: Assistance, Education and culture, Gaza Strip
Publication Date: 29/09/2016