Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, based in Doha, Qatar, has been making a profound impact on vulnerable and marginalized children and youth worldwide. With a focus on providing access to quality primary and higher education, EAA has reached over 19 million beneficiaries in more than 60 countries. In an interview with The Peninsula, Abdulla Salem Al Bakri, Engagement Manager at EAA Foundation, highlighted the organization’s various programs that address both immediate and long-term educational needs through advocacy, emergency responses, and community empowerment.
One of EAA’s flagship programs is Educate A Child (EAC), which has enrolled more than 12 million Out Of School Children (OOSC) globally since its initiation in 2012. The program aims to break barriers to education such as poverty, gender inequality, and conflicts by providing innovative solutions like rebuilding education infrastructure, training teachers, and conducting community peace-building workshops. Through global partnerships, EAC recently launched its ZERO OOSC initiative to enroll the hardest-to-reach children in specific African countries.
For higher education, the Al Fakhoora program promotes inclusive access to quality higher education for marginalized youth, offering scholarships to conflict-affected individuals. The program has awarded over 10,687 scholarships, with partnerships formed with prestigious universities worldwide. Notably, Al Fakhoora has supported ongoing refugee crises by providing scholarships to Syrians, Afghans, and Palestinians, including over 100 scholarships to Palestinians from the Gaza Strip as part of the Rebuilding Hope Initiative.
Additionally, EAA’s Innovation Development Directorate (IDD) has developed impactful resources like the Internet Free Resource Bank (IFERB), providing learning opportunities for vulnerable learners worldwide. The Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) program has empowered over 3.3 million children and youth through education, focusing on climate change education and advocacy. EAA’s Together Project and Assalam schools in Qatar have provided scholarships to thousands of beneficiaries from various backgrounds, implementing alternative education programs to address barriers to education.
EAA’s Protect Education in Insecurity and Conflict (PEIC) program works on policy and legal advocacy to protect education in insecure situations, pushing for international legal frameworks like UN Security Council Resolution 2601. EAA aims to lead global education transformation between 2024-2028, addressing emerging challenges such as displaced children and climate change effects on education. Despite challenges like ongoing conflicts and instability, EAA employs innovative strategies to ensure continuity of education and advocate for the protection of educational institutions and personnel.
In conclusion, EAA Foundation plays a vital role in shaping a global movement to protect education and empower youth in vulnerable regions. By focusing on capacity building, targeted initiatives, partnerships with local and international organizations, and continuously refining programs based on feedback, EAA is committed to ensuring access to quality education for all. As attacks on education continue to rise globally, EAA emphasizes the importance of safeguarding the right to learn as a fundamental human right and a strategic necessity for fostering peace, stability, and progress in the world.
