Emirati businessman Al Ghurair earmarks Dh25 million to send refugees to school

Emirati businessman and philanthropist Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair.- Photo by Mohammad Mustafa Khan

Emirati businessman and philanthropist Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair has earmarked a Dh25-million fund for the education of refugee students in Jordan, Lebanon and the UAE this year, it was announced on Tuesday in Dubai.
It was part of the Dh100-million Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair Refugee Education Fund that was launched on World Refugee Day last year. Set to run for three years, the fund aims to support the education of 20,000 children in Jordan, Lebanon, and the UAE.
Speaking to Khaleej Times at Press event on Tuesday, Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair said: "Young people whose education has been interrupted by conflict deserve a chance to rebuild their lives and have a shot at a good future."
In the initial round in 2018, Dh49 million in direct funding was allocated to selected educational and humanitarian organisations, allowing a total of 6,788 refugee students to attend secondary school, vocational education, and university.
For the second round this year, Dh25 million shall be disbursed, which is expected to help over 10,000 children return to school and complete their education.
This brings the total financial grants to Dh74 million so far, with the total number of beneficiaries at over 17,000.
The initiative's third and final funding round will follow in 2020.
"I set up this fund during the Year of Zayed because I believe philanthropists have a role in helping support one of the most major challenges of our region: Lack of education opportunities for young people who need it the most," Al Ghurair said.
The fund will support high-impact education programmes at the secondary, vocational and tertiary levels of education, aiming to equip students with 21^st-century skills that meet current labour market demands.
The grantees selected for the fund include the Emirates Red Crescent in the UAE; the UNHCR; the United Nations Refugee Agency and Relief International in Jordan; and Unite Lebanon Youth Project, Beit Atfal Assumoud, Alfanar, Digital Opportunity Trust and War Child Holland in Lebanon.
saman@khaleejtimes.com