Sharjah refugee award accepting nominations

The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF), a Sharjah-based global humanitarian charity dedicated to helping refugees and people in need worldwide, has started receiving nominations for the fourth edition of the Sharjah International Award for Refugee Advocacy and Support (SIARA), which is organised in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The Dhs500,000 (US$136,000) award money is a special contribution by TBHF – does not represent any share of the donations made to the foundation – and it is under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of TBHF and UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children.

Mariam Al Hammadi, Director, TBHF, noted that the scope of the award had been expanded from Asia, Middle East and North Africa to include organisations that operate across the whole African continent, as it hosts more than 26 percent of the world’s refugees. She also explained that the objective behind the award’s expansion is to take Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi’s vision to turn global attention to the outstanding efforts and initiatives launched by non-profit organisations across Africa, who have taken it upon themselves to improve the lives of millions who are displaced and seeking refuge in the continent.

According to UNHCR, 70.8 million people from all over the world have been forced to flee their homes, of whom some 41.3 million are internally displaced. More than half of them are under 18 years of age.

Sixty-seven per cent of the refugees came from Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Somalia and South Sudan.

For the first time since the award was launched, TBHF will be receiving applications directly on its website, https://tbhf.ae, until December 17, 2019. To enable maximum representation for organisations in MENA, Asia and Africa working in the humanitarian sector, TBHF has also opened its doors to organisations and individuals around the world who want to nominate any non-profits working to support and empower refugees in these regions.   “The award reflects the unwavering commitment of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, to end the suffering of refugees, and inspire individuals and organisations to contribute in improving the lives of those who have been so cruelly affected. Ultimately, through this award, we want to help refugees in different countries of the world, integrate them back into their communities and help organisations working tirelessly to offer them decent living conditions, especially to women and children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups”, added Hammadi.

“Since 2017, TBHF has been organising the award annually to recognise the unparalleled efforts of local humanitarian outfits who have gone beyond the provision of emergency relief to have a positive and sustainable impact on the lives of numerous families and children who live under harsh conditions due to being displaced and in refuge, by improving their access to food, health, psychological support and quality education”, she further explained.  

SIARA’s terms and evaluation criteria seeks to support and promote the innovative practices and mechanisms of humanitarian institutions, bring international limelight to most affected areas, and prioritizes those in urgent need of humanitarian support.

TBHF’s evaluation of the nominees will centre on whether their work has resulted in tangible benefits for those they offered support to. Their work must use innovative practices within its programmes and initiatives to ensure better results and sustainable impact, be expansive in its scope, and carry a clearly defined element of transparency and objectivity in its service delivery ethos.

Al Hammadi emphasised the importance of the award in raising awareness about sustainable humanitarian work, and its impact on communities and people. It also symbolises the continuous approach of kindness, sacrifice and philanthropy embraced by the UAE, and reaffirms the role played by the emirate of Sharjah in supporting humanitarian initiatives on regional and international levels, she further noted.