An Abu Dhabi-based UN employee has been filled with hope after returning from her magical but challenging charity trek up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania which raised nearly $15,000 for Syrian refugee children.
Thanks to media coverage and support from the local and international community, Egyptian Canadian national Ayat El-Dewary, an external relations associate at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), surpassed her initial goal of $10,000, with more fundraising plans in the pipeline.
Mother of one El-Dewary’s monumental climb raised donations for The Big Heart for Syrian Children Campaign, an organisation set up by Shaikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of HH Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah.
The Big Heart (TBH) Campaign works to provide Syrian refugee children and their families with vital support and services from health care, education and core relief items.
“The money we’ve raised has already provided so much support for displaced children inside Syria and in surrounding areas with shelter and winterisation. They are now working on an education campaign to give children access to education inside Syria and neighbouring countries while working closely with UNHCR.”
An estimated 1.2 million Syrian children are registered as refugees with UNHCR, of which a shocking portion lack basic education and are forced to work unsuitable jobs in order to provide for their families.
El-Dewary is still taking donations on her Just Giving site and hopes to work with friends and family to hold future fundraising events.
To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/ayat-el-dewary. To find out more about TBH, visit: www.twitter.com/TheBigHeartUAE
