Sheikha Moza, accompanied by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, saw first-hand the achievements made at Dignity Centre. Sheikha Moza also visited the Sahabat Support Centre School as part of their annual carnival. The school includes refugee students from 17 countries. The carnival witnessed the participation of about 300 children and included various sports activities and an exhibition of handicrafts and art by the students of the school. "It is clear from what I have seen here in Malaysia that quality primary education can truly change the course of a child's life," said Sheikha Moza.
Sheikha Moza bint Nasser interacting with refugee students at a learning centre supported by EAA's Educate A Child programme in Kuala Lumpur. The learning centers are two of 131 centers EAA operates with UNHCR in Malaysia, helping refugee children forge a future for themselves using a comprehensive approach of traditional education and crucial skills development.
Sheikha Moza bint Nasser with refugee students at two learning centers supported by EAA's Educate A Child programme in Kuala Lumpur, Dignity For Children School and Sahabat Support Center School. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi joined Sheikha Moza and the accompanying delegation at Dignity School.
Sheikha Moza bint Nasser with refugee students of two learning centers supported by EAA's Educate A Child programme in Kuala Lumpur, Dignity For Children School and Sahabat Support Center School
Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail hosted a dinner banquet welcoming Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser to Kuala Lumpur.
"Equipping refugees with knowledge and skills means they can be assets to their host countries and later support the rebuilding of their home countries. I'm proud of the work being done here and thankful to Malaysia and its people for helping these children access a better future."
Sheikha Moza's visit follows an agreement to pursue a strategic partnership aimed at enrolling more than 450,000 refugee and internally displaced children in schools in 15 countries and builds on existing collaboration. The partnership will make available a shared contribution of almost US$100mn in support for learning among refugee and internally displaced children. Support for this partnership project will include a contribution from EAA's strategic partner, the Qatar Fund for Development.
"With over 4mn refugee children currently out of school worldwide, there is so much more to do," Sheikha Moza said. "I urge more partners to come forward -- we all need to be playing our part to get more children into classrooms -- which is where they belong."
Since 2012, EAA and UNHCR have been working with other partners and advocates to provide access to quality primary education to some of the most marginalised children around the world. EAA and its partners are already supporting more than 10.4mn out-of-school children in 50 countries, providing them with access to education. Some 2.3mn of these children are refugees or internally displaced.
Meanwhile, Sheikha Moza and the accompanying delegation attended a dinner banquet hosted by Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. The dinner included a traditional Malaysian show by a group of children enrolled in a special programme co-ordinated by the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to train and teach Malaysian children gifted in art.
