Like the proverbial quality of mercy, compassion too is not limited. On the other hand, there is enormous scope for it to grow — and spread its benevolent branches not only regionally, but also worldwide. And the human heart is big enough to accommodate this quality.

The aptly named Big Heart Foundation is doing that: widening its canvas of generosity and hope for the benefit of millions across the globe. It believes in shaping a more humane, just, and inclusive future for forcibly displaced people worldwide.

In this regard The Big Heart Foundation’s move to allocate $500,000 to boost healthcare capacities in sites hosting refugee and internally displaced people (IDP) in Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Bangladesh and Kenya is truly praiseworthy.

This follows the global call made by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness The Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of The Big Heart Foundation, and UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children, in April to demonstrate solidarity and cooperation over the profound health, social, and economic concerns of refugees across these five nations under TBHF’s COVID-19 response fundraising campaign ‘Support Knows No Safe Distance’.

The amount is being mobilised by the organisation to implement the first phase of their planned relief projects in the five targeted locations. With coordinated support from its key partners in these nations, TBHF has mobilised resources and prioritised activities to support programmes in health, educational awareness, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Each organisation will receive a sum of $100,000 each to address the most pressing protection, lifesaving and integration needs of refugees and displaced populations across these five countries.

In the UAE, TBHF has till date, provided food supplies to 660 families and 1,400 individuals who have been affected directly or indirectly by the spread of COVID-19.  

The Sharjah-based global humanitarian charity organisation recently allocated $1.6 million to launch five humanitarian projects in Kenya, Pakistan and Jordan. Making the announcement at a virtual press conference recently, Big Heart, dedicated to helping refugees and people in need worldwide, said the projects to enhance education, healthcare and community empowerment would be implemented in collaboration with its strategic and long-established partner, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

TBHF wrapped up 2019 registering 146,771  beneficiaries in 11 nations, namely India, Pakistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Egypt, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Mozambique. The Foundation mobilised funds worth Dhs32,312,553 to support 16 humanitarian projects implemented by partnering organisations representing both local entities in beneficiary nations as well as international agencies.   

At the beginning of this year, The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) announced an allocation of $1 million to improve healthcare services for 4,000 children and 2,600 women, annually, across four of the most deprived health zones of the Kasai Oriental province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher has reiterated that the TBHF’s humanitarian work finds inspiration and purpose in the basic right of every human being to life and liberty, access to food, healthcare and education, to social stability, the right to employment and to belong to a community and to the world without being excluded or marginalised.

As Sheikha Jawaher says, “Humanity triumphs when you selflessly support fellow brothers and sisters in need — wherever they are — without discrimination. You have proved that charitability can be a sustainable practice and real happiness can be attained by sharing what the Almighty has given us, with others."