Qatar, UK sign MoU to support children’s education in Syria

Qatar, represented by Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Kingdom represented by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, that aims to support the education of children in Northwest Syria and provide them with their needs. The agreement was signed via video conference on QFFD’s part by its Deputy DirectorGeneral for Development Projects by Misfer Hamad Al Shahwani. It was signed on the part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office by the Syria Team Leader Maria Wyard. The agreement aims to provide important resources that would guarantee the continuation of the educational process. This support from the State of Qatar represents a fundamental and sustainable investment that will help children and teachers and improve their living conditions in the governorates of Idlib and Aleppo in Syria.

This cooperation will also strengthen QFFD’s vision of giving hope and promoting peace and justice, by providing support to 130,000 children and 11,683 teachers in 435 schools. Commenting on the occasion, Al Shahwani said that the State of Qatar delivered on its promise to provide $500m over the past five years to help international efforts in responding to the humanitarian needs resulting from the Syrian crisis. He noted that the financing by the Qatar Fund for Development came at a crucial time, stressing that the funding will support those who would be deprived of education in the middle of a school year due to the lack of financial resources. He expressed his delight with strengthening the partnership between QFFD and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Affairs in the United Kingdom, adding that he looks forward to making a big difference with these contributions, especially for teachers, by paying the salaries of 11,683 teachers for the remainder of the school year 2021 in affirmation of the crucial job they do for children in one of the world’s most challenging circumstances Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the UK Yousef bin Ali Al Khater said that the State of Qatar and the UK realized the importance of placing future generations at the heart of the response to the crisis. He added that this meant the two sides needed to cooperate on this longterm educational initiative to bring hope and knowledge to those in desperate need for assistance in Syria. UK Ambassador to Qatar, H E Jonathan Paul Wilks said a third of Syria’s children are still out of school 10 years after the Syrian crisis. He highlighted that the conflict has had a negative impact on education and destroys the opportunities young boys and girls have. He added that, thanks to the new partnership, the two sides will work on improving education for children in Syria.