SHARJAH, September 26, 2014 — The organising committee of the ‘Investing in the Future’ conference has launched the initiative # EntaAmanti (Pledge to Protect) on social networking sites.
The initiative was launched at Al Serkal Avenue in Dubai, as part of preparations in Sharjah to host the first UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) conference under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
During the launch, a detailed presentation was given about the conference, which is being organised by the UNHCR in collaboration with The Big Heart campaign.
Following the presentation, a question and answer session was held in the presence of 21 prominent figures and activists on social media, including journalists and media personalities, as well as volunteers and professionals in charitable and humanitarian fields.
The #EntaAmanti initiative aims to raise the awareness of the community about the issues related to refugee children in the MENA region and the difficult living conditions they are facing. It also aspires to help community members gain a deeper insight into the plight of refugee children and think seriously about how to help solve some of their problems.
The initiative is targeting renowned activists on social media to have them engaged in the issue of child/youth displacement due to their influence in shaping public opinion.
Mariam Al Hammadi, Salam Ya Seghar Director, said, “We are launching the # EntaAmanti campaign to call everyone to realise that refugee children are our responsibility. All children have the right to live a decent life, with all their rights protected. And we should never forget that their temporary lives in refugee camps currently do not mean that they have to spend their entire lives there. Refugee children have their own dreams and perceptions about how their life would be in the future. So, the more we care for children, the more opportunities they can get to achieve their dreams in the future.” Presenter and social media activist, Saud Al Kaabi, said, “Such humanitarian and charitable participation brings us closer to the duty that we must share with The Big Heart Foundation, which is dedicated to educate the public about the reality of refugee children’s conditions. I welcome this idea and will from this moment do what I am supposed to do ethically and humanitarianly, capitalising on the U.A.E.’s rich record of charitable and humanitarian works.” Presenter Nooruddine Yousuf said, “It is a very good idea and opportunity to be engaged in raising the awareness about the issues of refugee children, and it has become necessary for us to be effective players and part of this campaign, to help in achieving the target successfully.” Meanwhile, Sharjah is all set to host the first ‘Investing in the Future’ conference on October 15-16, which will focus on the issues of refugee children and adolescents in the Middle East and North Africa region, with the participation of over 300 leaders, government officials and international and regional experts involved in refugee affairs.
