Doha, 29 June 2020: Vodafone Qatar has announced a new partnership with Education Above All (EAA) to support the Foundation's ongoing efforts to provide quality and relevant access to education for out of school children and youth through its programme Together “Sawiyan”.
Under the agreement, which was formalised during a virtual signing ceremony, Vodafone Qatar will be providing pupils of the local Assalam Schools with telecommunication services and products to access the latest online learning tools to continue their schoolwork outside the classroom and move forward with their studies.
The agreement also paves the way for Vodafone Qatar to support EAA’s ongoing campaigns in the areas of fundraising and awareness, as well as providing digital safety training for the Assalam students under Vodafone’s AmanTECH programme, encouraging responsible digital behaviour and online safety awareness.
Vodafone Qatar has a long history of supporting children’s education, digital awareness and also providing learning tools and services. The agreement with EAA forms part of its continuously expanding corporate social responsibility under the ‘Inclusion for All’ pillar of the Company’s core purpose. This support will ensure that the Assalam students are connected and have equal access to high-quality online educational resources and materials used by their teachers.
Commenting on the agreement, Vodafone Qatar’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Khames Mohammed Al Naimi, said: “As a conscientious company, Vodafone continues to recognise its role and responsibility in using technology and connectivity to improve lives. We believe that the opportunities and promise of a better digital future should be accessible to all and are committed to ensuring that the more vulnerable are not left behind on the journey towards that future. Through our technology, we can work to bridge the divides that exist and help these youth contribute equally and fully to society.”
EAA’s Director of Procurement and Operations, Mohammed Saad Al Kubaisi, said: “We are committed to protecting every child’s right to an education, now more than ever. This agreement outlines what promises to be a fruitful partnership and we very much look forward to cooperating with Vodafone Qatar, to whom we extend our thanks for supporting our mission. With Vodafone Qatar’s resources and digital expertise, we can vastly enhance our programmes that are providing access to high quality education as an enabler of broader human development.”
The two Assalam Schools established in 2019 in partnership between EAA, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, under the
Together “Sawiyan” programme, are aimed ensure all out of school and at-risk children in Qatar have equitable access to quality education by providing both financial support and capacity building as well as facilitating the establishment of alternative education institutions.
Working in collaboration with the Pakistan Welfare Forum and the Palestinian School Management respectively, the First and Second Assalam Schools provide education to English-speaking and Arabic-speaking students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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About Vodafone Qatar P.Q.S.C
Vodafone Qatar P.Q.S.C. ("Vodafone Qatar") provides a comprehensive range of services including voice, messaging, data, fixed communications, IoT and ICT managed services in the State of Qatar, for both consumers and businesses alike. The Company commenced commercial operations in 2009 and has 1.73 million mobile customers as of 31 March 2020. Its state-of-the-art network infrastructure is expanding to cover key locations in the country with fibre connectivity and 5G, along with an extensive digital ecosystem, which will contribute to Qatar's continued growth and prosperity. Vodafone Qatar’s vision is deeply rooted in its mission to connect today’s ideas with the technologies of tomorrow by pioneering digital innovation and becoming people’s first choice in telecom and digital services. Please visit www.vodafone.qa for more details.
For press enquiries, please contact:
Lana Khachan
Head of Communications, Vodafone Qatar
E-mail: lana.khachan@vodafone.com
About the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation
The Education Above All (EAA) Foundation is a global education foundation established in 2012 by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. EAA envisions bringing hope and real opportunity to the lives of impoverished and marginalised children, youth and women, especially in the developing world and in difficult circumstances such as conflict situations and natural disasters. We believe that education is the single most effective means of reducing poverty, generating economic growth and creating peaceful and just societies, as well as a fundamental right for all children and an essential condition to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For more information, visit educationaboveall.org.
EAA is comprised of four programmes: Educate A Child (EAC), Al Fakhoora, Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) and Protect Education in Insecurity and Conflict (PEIC). In addition to providing access to education for children around the world, EAA advocates to safeguard inclusive and quality education for all.