NAIROBI, 6th March, 2023 (WAM) — H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Humanitarian Envoy of TBHF, has inaugurated The Big Heart Secondary School for Girls in Kalobeyei settlement near Kakuma camp in Kenya.
Launched by TBHF with the funding of Sharjah Charity House and in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), this first-ever boarding secondary school for girls in the area will annually provide 360 students – both refugees and girls from the surrounding host community – access to high-quality education and safe boarding facilities.
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed led the delegation from Sharjah to the Republic of Kenya for the official field visit, during which they toured the school facilities. The delegation included several officials.
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed emphasised the importance of humanitarian education projects and its long-term impact on young generations who will be able to build a better future for refugee communities.
The school fills a major gap in secondary education requirements of girls in the target communities in Kenya, where only 5 percent girls had access to secondary education. The new school premises, comprising six buildings, which include classrooms, dormitories, a library, a theatre, a laboratory, and a management building, will offer a holistic opportunity for growth and development.
The newly inaugurated school offers a safe and secure learning environment that caters to the educational needs of girls. It provides boarding facilities and a library to girls from the refugee and hosting communities who face various social challenges such as early or forced marriage and child labour. Moreover, the school addresses the high demand for education as Kakuma camp and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement have a population of over 196,666 registered refugees and asylum-seekers.
During the visit, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed and the accompanying delegation were briefed on the school's significance and its impact on the lives of girls.
“The advancement of the education system and investment in knowledge infrastructure is one of the key pillars of the UAE’s vision. It is a key factor of Sharjah’s identity and cultural project. This is why the focus on educational humanitarian projects has been a top priority in Sharjah’s efforts at the regional and global levels, in line with the vision of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who believes that making positive change in society starts with enhancing the foundations and methods of education,” said the Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.