The initiative aims to cover students’ university tuition fees and their living expenses.

Sharjah, 2 April 2017 - As the crisis in Syria leaves children and young people in increasingly difficult circumstances, The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF), a Sharjah-based global humanitarian charity dedicated to helping refugees and people in need worldwide, has donated $1 million (AED3.67 million) to cover the university tuition and living expenses for  21 Syrian refugee students in Lebanon.

The scholarships will provide Syrian refugee students with university preparation courses and advise them on programs and career paths, while guiding them in their university applications. In addition, TBHF will provide the students with monthly salaries to enable them to cover their living expenses while at university in Lebanon. The donation made by TBHF under the recently signed agreement with the Unite Lebanon Youth Project (ULYP) will fund the project for the course of four years.

Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of The Big Heart Foundation, said: “It is essential that communities and countries continue to develop, and people with a solid and stable education are more able to overcome challenges and deal with changes. It is those people who can ensure a stable and secure environment where all community members can enjoy dignified living conditions. Education is the only way to ensure a bright future for generations to come.”

Al Hammadi noted: “This initiative will enable 21 Syrian refugee university students to invest their time in education, and give them the opportunity to play a part in rebuilding their society after the end of the war.”
 
Mariam Al Hammadi added: “In line with the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of TBHF and UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children, the foundation pays great attention to the education of children and young people, especially in emergency cases. She highlighted that TBHF launched a series of initiatives and programmes that brought about a positive difference in the lives of thousands of children and youngsters, over recent years 
    
Founder of ULYP, Melek el Nimer commented: “Our students benefitting from TBHF grant will not only have a chance to continue their education but also have a monthly income that will make a big difference under the extreme circumstances they are living in. I sincerely thank the Foundation and Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi for this very generous grant that is already changing lives. “

The students will be able to attend Beirut Arab University, Lebanese American University and the Lebanese International University, with majors including Media and Communication, Architectural Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Business Administration, Maths, Nursing, Medical Sciences and Interior Design.

In June 2015, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi launched The Big Heart Foundation to coincide with the World Refugee Day. It followed her decision to transform what was then The Big Heart Campaign into a global humanitarian foundation. The move aimed to redoubling efforts to help refugees and people in need worldwide, with the new foundation adding significantly to the UAE's rich portfolio and long record of humanitarian initiatives regionally and globally.

ULYP is a non-profit organisation that aims to create a society in which people can co-exist, unite, and work together for a better and brighter future. ULYP does this through opening educational opportunities and giving equal access to quality educational programs to children, youth, and women in the marginalized communities. It is dedicated to promoting awareness about the importance of people’s adherence to the principles of mutual respect, tolerance, and accepting the other.