Rota ‘remains committed to Gaza’

 Rota will rehabilitate any of the 22 schools that have been damaged through rebuilding, painting, repairing and refurnishing.

Reach Out to Asia (Rota) has officially announced that it will begin rehabilitating schools damaged during the recent attacks on Gaza.

These schools will be from among the 22 Rota has already rehabilitated since 2009.

The non-profit and community development organisation recently received an assessment report, which indicated that three of the 22 schools suffered major damage while the others sustained minor damage.

Rota is in the process of launching several projects, according to a statement. It will rehabilitate any of the 22 schools that have been damaged through rebuilding, painting, repairing and refurnishing.

It will also launch a project that aims to use a sports-based programme to provide psychosocial support, build resiliency and contribute to the restoration of a sense of normalcy among crisis-affected children in the Gaza Strip.

Based on its long-term commitment to Palestinians, Rota is expecting to start a project titled “Enhancing students’ innovation through science and technology clubs”. The project, which is set to be launched in mid-2015, aims to empower Palestinian children to participate in their communities in an innovative manner as well as to improve and realise their potential for a better quality of life.

These projects are poised to directly impact the lives of more than 21,000 students who attend these schools and directly/indirectly impact more than 126,000 families who have been struggling under harsh living conditions while attempting to maintain normalcy in Gaza, the statement adds.

Essa al-Mannai, Rota executive director, said: “Supporting access and quality to education and community development in Gaza has been a priority for Rota and always will be. Gaza’s population now exceeds 1.4mn, of which 56% or approximately 793,520 are children, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. Ensuring access to quality education for these students is our priority and our mission will go on.

“We remain committed to our effort to help rebuild, rehabilitate and refurbish damaged schools and revitalise the educational system throughout the Gaza Strip. I would like to thank Qatar Football Association and our loyal fans for their generosity and solidarity towards making a positive impact on our neighbours in Gaza. Rota remains committed to Gaza and supporting its community in this time of great need.”

The recent attacks on Gaza demonstrate the importance of preserving and promoting access to education during a crisis. Rota initiatives are underpinned by the belief that education is as vital as shelter and as vulnerable to attack as a building during a crisis, according to the statement.