Saudi Gazette report

 

Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the ruler of Sharjah, has been well-known for her participation in humanitarian projects, and nowadays she is geared up to host the first ‘Investing in the Future Conference’ on October 15-16 which aims to discuss child and youth displacement issues and ways to protect refugee children and adolescents in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. In the following interview she sheds light on the conference and other related subjects:



Q. Education has always been important to you. Tell us about how this will be emphasized at the upcoming Investing in the Future Conference?



A. Education is definitely one of the most important tools people can use to improve their lives. At the Investing in the Future conference, there will be a Youth Forum attended by approximately 600 university students, faculty members and academics, with workshops available to encourage the youth about various opportunities available in the Middle East as well as motivate them to achieve their goals while also uplifting their communities. This creates a brighter future for them.



Q. Speaking of career opportunities, you also established the Business Women Council. How does this assist Arab women?



A. The Business Women Council began in 2002 to eradicate the obstacles and restrictions women face in business. It provides its members with support structures to aid their businesses, while also being a platform for the exchange of ideas and information so that women are motivated to develop their companies. We work towards safeguarding legislation on federal and local levels to assist legislature for women’s business, while improving their relationships with governmental departments.



Q. As an UNHCR eminent advocate, what is your message to people about how they can assist with humanitarian crises?



A. I know that people might find it difficult to offer aid, and this is increased if we think of how many crises are constantly asking for our attention. You switch on the news on television and are bombarded with sad and tragic stories from all over the world. It’s not always easy to know which crisis to support and what to do to help. Sometimes people’s reactions to the tragedies all around us become diluted simply because there are so many stories to absorb. My message to people is to remember that we are all united. A crisis across the world affects all of us in some way. People must give what they can - even if this doesn’t seem like a lot, it can still assist. The great thing about the UN is that they are a safe and secure organization where people can donate money or resources and be sure that they will reach the people for whom those things are intended.



Q. Why is the Syrian refugee crisis such a humanitarian and global concern?



A. The children are our future and if we do not reach out to assist them, we are allowing a tragedy to harm us all. Child refugees are a global concern and the responsibility of international leaders and so we need to come together — not only as a nation but as a global force — to tackle the problem; ensure basic rights such as food, shelter and education for children; and protect refugee children through structures and legislation. 



Q. How will the Investing in the Future Conference assist in these goals?



A. The conference unites over 300 leaders, donors, community leaders, and policy makers to find solutions for the refugee crisis. This will enable us to safeguard partnerships between people so that we can instil structures and programs to assist children in the best possible ways. In this way, we can unify our efforts. There are many agencies and organizations at work to support refugees in the Middle East, however the problem is that they lack coordination between them. The conference will be able to tackle this issue.



Q. You have achieved a lot to help refugees, such as with your Big Heart campaign. Could you tell us how that came about?



A. Big Heart was established because I did not want Syrian refugees to feel abandoned or neglected. The campaign raised US$14 million in its first year and has continued to meet needs of hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees who required emergency healthcare, shelter, food and clothing. We then moved beyond these basics to the endeavour of education, bringing Syrian refugee children back into the school system so that they can complete their education. I think the Investing in the Future Conference is going to continue encouraging efforts such as education so that refugee children who are suffering greatly can have hope again.



Q. How do you remain hopeful in the face of tragedy?



A. I think it is important never to lose sight of hope and to bring some positivity into the lives of those who are suffering. It is not easy to think that I am just one person, with limited resources, but that is why I hope organizations and individuals will join me so that we can unite to take a stand and collect our efforts to make a real difference.



Q. How will you ensure the goals of the conference will be met?



A. As a UNHCR Eminent Advocate, my focus will continue to be on protecting and assisting refugee children. The plans set forward during the conference will be watched closely so that they come to fruition. They will also be given deadlines so that they become concrete. The work will continue long after the conference draws to a close.



Q. What is one of the most important messages you have for the youth?



A. Education is the most important thing. This will help our youth become productive members of society. It will open doors for them and allow them to see that they do not have to choose destructive roads or those marked by despair. They will be in greater positions to have a positive effect on their communities as well as their futures. I really believe that getting an education is the first step towards greater things and it is a lifeboat in the most despair-filled conditions.



Q. What is the importance of Sharjah being the host city of the event?



A. I am focused on showing support locally, first, because charity should always begin at home. The city of Sharjah has always been on the frontlines of humanitarian crises, ready to offer its help. This conference is a first of its kind in the MENA region which in itself is a positive step to drawing more attention on a global scale to the problems we face in the area as well as showing that we are taking a stand to do something positive for the refugee crisis.  Hosting this conference in Sharjah is in line with the directives of H.H. the Ruler of Sharjah to protect refugee rights, especially those of children.