QNA
Doha
The Education Above All Foundation (EAA) is currently carrying out a number of educational projects in Asia with support from Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD and a group of global partners, the Foundation’s CEO Fahd bin Hamad Al Sulaiti has said.
Laser-focused on optimising access to educational opportunities for marginalised groups and out-of-school children, EAA operates 33 projects in 21 Asian countries, he added.
QFFD joint projects offer the possibility of access to good education for 7, 441, 256 beneficiaries in all Asian countries, Al Sulaiti said. In Nepal QFFD has achieved tangible results through 13 projects. The projects include establishing and optimising educational infrastructure by building 105 new schools and upgrading 145 others. These had a profound and positive impact on local communities with the abundance of opportunities for 188,554 beneficiaries from the primary education.
QFFD launched the ‘Reach Mindanao’ project in Philippines which helped young people complete their secondary education and achieve self-sufficiency, either through decent works, or initiating their private businesses. This profoundly advanced the community and supported local peace efforts benefiting 5,296 people, Al Sulaiti added.
Al Sulaiti stated that in Bangladesh QFFD provided a large-scale support through 12 projects that included supporting out-of-school children, refugees, and displaced people with a total target of enrolling 974,700 out-of-school children. Also, QFFD succeeded in achieving a concrete impact with the total number of beneficiaries reaching roughly 989,946 individuals.
The EAA CEO described the footprint left by EAA on the targeted communities in Asia as profound and inclusive having achieved a paradigm shift in education and supporting the sustainable development goals in Nepal, Philippines and Bangladesh.
He pointed out that the projects have demonstrated the institutions’ capability of making concrete changes that transcended the provision of education to encompass the promotion of stability, as well as community and economic development.
Education in Nepal witnessed a major transformation following the construction of new schools and improved educational infrastructure, offering opportunities for good education for thousands of children, with educational initiatives empowering young people and upgrading their capabilities, he pointed out.
Al Sulaiti emphasised that these initiatives have supported peace and local development, and enhanced primary education for children, refugees, and displaced people in Bangladesh with a remarkable impact on life quality and opening new horizons for the future.
He stated that the same initiatives have effectively empowered young people through strengthening their leadership and development skills, in addition to encouraging their active engagement in the sustainable development initiatives, addressing climate issues, and building local and global advocacy networks.
Additionally, QFFD intends to provide educational opportunities for children, with the conviction that education is the best way out of the scourge of poverty and the basis of establishing communities that enjoy justice and peace, in addition to unlocking the full potential of all young people and children, Al Sulaiti outlined.
He pointed out that Asia is plagued with varying social and economic challenges, hence, QFFD’s role is accentuated as a pivotal actor in achieving development by empowering young people utilising a flexible qualitative education, building skills, strengthening educational environment, besides helping out-of-school children, displaced communities, marginalised and vulnerable groups realise their hope.
