Sharjah's Initiative for Orphaned Children in Gaza
The Big Heart Foundation collaborates with Taawon to support over 20,000 orphans amid rising conflict.
In October 2023, a newborn referred to as Baby Malak was discovered abandoned in Gaza, just days after her birth.
She was found wrapped in cloth, suspended from a tree, with no information regarding her parents or family.
Currently, Malak is in a stable and healthy condition, having been adopted by a local nurse.
Her situation reflects the plight of thousands of children in Gaza, who are receiving assistance from Sharjah's The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF).
TBHF has initiated a collaborative campaign named ‘For Gaza’ in partnership with the Palestine-based Taawon (Welfare Association) to provide long-term care and essential services to over 20,000 orphaned children in Gaza.
Recently, the foundation organized an event aimed at increasing community awareness and encouraging philanthropic donations to support this initiative.
During the event, Dr. Tareq Emtairah, Director General of Taawon, emphasized the necessity for sustained financial commitments from donors.
He stated, “Any partner that joins us ideally would sponsor a kid over five or ten years,” highlighting the importance of creating a reliable support system for these vulnerable children.
He noted the risks involved in short-term care, underscoring the need for continuous funding until the children reach adulthood.
This initiative comes amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, which have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 300 individuals.
This escalation marks the end of a weeks-long standoff regarding the extension of a ceasefire that had temporarily halted previous hostilities.
The partnership between TBHF and Taawon has been active since 2013, yielding 11 completed projects that have collectively impacted over one million individuals.
Taawon, established in 1983, is recognized as one of Palestine's largest developmental organizations.
Dr. Emtairah mentioned that they have successfully collected details of more than 20,000 out of an estimated 35,000 orphaned children in Gaza, with the majority being under the age of two.
The organization prioritizes finding relatives or extended family to care for these orphans, and encourages local adoptions to enable the children to remain within Gaza and contribute to its rebuilding efforts.
The campaign, launched by Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, aims to provide sustainable assistance to over 2,000 children through education, healthcare, psychological support, food, and shelter.
The cost of sponsoring a child for a month in Gaza is stated to be $170 (approximately AED 625).
This total encompasses vocational training and education costs of $69, food and clothing expenses amounting to $50, and healthcare costs of around $30, with the remainder allocated for mental and social care.
An art exhibition coinciding with the event showcased diverse representations of Gaza's realities, ranging from hopeful visions to stark depictions of the ongoing war.
Artwork was priced between AED 2,500 and AED 35,000, with proceeds directed towards the campaign.
Notable Palestinian artist Rihab Saidam presented pieces including ‘Mother of the Martyr,’ portraying a grieving mother with her deceased child wrapped in traditional keffiyeh, and a poignant artwork illustrating a sister mourning her baby brother who lost his life in the conflict.
Saidam expressed her sense of dislocation, having lived in the UAE for 45 years without visiting her homeland, emphasizing her commitment to raising awareness and leveraging her art for the benefit of children in Gaza.
She was found wrapped in cloth, suspended from a tree, with no information regarding her parents or family.
Currently, Malak is in a stable and healthy condition, having been adopted by a local nurse.
Her situation reflects the plight of thousands of children in Gaza, who are receiving assistance from Sharjah's The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF).
TBHF has initiated a collaborative campaign named ‘For Gaza’ in partnership with the Palestine-based Taawon (Welfare Association) to provide long-term care and essential services to over 20,000 orphaned children in Gaza.
Recently, the foundation organized an event aimed at increasing community awareness and encouraging philanthropic donations to support this initiative.
During the event, Dr. Tareq Emtairah, Director General of Taawon, emphasized the necessity for sustained financial commitments from donors.
He stated, “Any partner that joins us ideally would sponsor a kid over five or ten years,” highlighting the importance of creating a reliable support system for these vulnerable children.
He noted the risks involved in short-term care, underscoring the need for continuous funding until the children reach adulthood.
This initiative comes amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, which have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 300 individuals.
This escalation marks the end of a weeks-long standoff regarding the extension of a ceasefire that had temporarily halted previous hostilities.
The partnership between TBHF and Taawon has been active since 2013, yielding 11 completed projects that have collectively impacted over one million individuals.
Taawon, established in 1983, is recognized as one of Palestine's largest developmental organizations.
Dr. Emtairah mentioned that they have successfully collected details of more than 20,000 out of an estimated 35,000 orphaned children in Gaza, with the majority being under the age of two.
The organization prioritizes finding relatives or extended family to care for these orphans, and encourages local adoptions to enable the children to remain within Gaza and contribute to its rebuilding efforts.
The campaign, launched by Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, aims to provide sustainable assistance to over 2,000 children through education, healthcare, psychological support, food, and shelter.
The cost of sponsoring a child for a month in Gaza is stated to be $170 (approximately AED 625).
This total encompasses vocational training and education costs of $69, food and clothing expenses amounting to $50, and healthcare costs of around $30, with the remainder allocated for mental and social care.
An art exhibition coinciding with the event showcased diverse representations of Gaza's realities, ranging from hopeful visions to stark depictions of the ongoing war.
Artwork was priced between AED 2,500 and AED 35,000, with proceeds directed towards the campaign.
Notable Palestinian artist Rihab Saidam presented pieces including ‘Mother of the Martyr,’ portraying a grieving mother with her deceased child wrapped in traditional keffiyeh, and a poignant artwork illustrating a sister mourning her baby brother who lost his life in the conflict.
Saidam expressed her sense of dislocation, having lived in the UAE for 45 years without visiting her homeland, emphasizing her commitment to raising awareness and leveraging her art for the benefit of children in Gaza.
