News

Abu-Ghazaleh Visits Zaatari Refugee Camp to Address its Educational Needs

08-Mar-2018

Abu-Ghazaleh Visits Zaatari Refugee Camp to Address its Educational Needs

Special to TAG Educa News Agency

ZAATARI, Mafraq - HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh paid a visit to the Zaatari Refugee Camp and met with Head of the Camp Colonel Thouqan Obeidat, UNICEF Representative to Jordan Mr. Robert Jenkins as well as students from the Zaatari Elementary School for Girls.

During a tour of the Camp organized by UNICEF, Obeidat and Jenkins briefed Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh on the conditions in the Camp in terms of education, training and infrastructure mainly in the field of energy resources.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh expressed his pride at his partnership with UNICEF and declared his willingness to cooperate with all stakeholders to serve the Camp, particularly in the provision of renewable energy, and the establishment of three knowledge centers equipped with computers in addition to free Internet connection for the benefit of the students and residents of the camp alike.

He also announced that the knowledge centers would be provided with educational programs to enable students to acquire professional qualifications through digital learning as per the request of Mr. Jenkins.

In reference to the significance of education, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh indicated that the importance of education is even greater for camp refugees since it is their only means towards improving their conditions, developing their skills and capacities and leading a way out of their harsh living conditions and suffering.

He pointed out that Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org) with the support of the European Union, is offering 300 scholarships to Syrian refugees from inside and outside the Camp to acquire international academic degrees such as a Bachelor's or a Master's degree via digital learning, adding that work is under process to increase the number of beneficiaries amongst Syrian refugees and displaced persons in the Syrian territories.

Meanwhile, he declared that the Organization is working on the manufacturing of the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh for Digital Citizenship (TAGDC) device, noting that the new device will be distributed to all students of the Camp upon completion.

Due to the importance of the English language, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Academy is also offering Cambridge Assessment English and examinations, noting that the Academy is an authorized center for examinations and assessment.

For his part, UNICEF Representative to Jordan Mr. Jenkins welcomed the donation of books from Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh to schoolchildren in Zaatari and said he was looking forward to further opportunities of collaboration to help vulnerable children in Jordan.

During the visit, Jenkins briefed Abu-Ghazaleh about the education programs in the camp. He informed him that there are 12 UNICEF-supported school complexes in Zaatari, accommodating 22,000 students.

During his visit to Zaatari Elementary School for Girls, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh presented students with the Talal Ibn Adeebah” story which he hopes will serve as motivation, inspiration and determination since it” narrates the story of Abu-Ghazaleh’s childhood spent living at a refugee camp.

'Talal Ibn Adeebah', written by author Areej Younis, chronicles the story of Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh from his childhood during which he was forced to leave his homeland, until his achievement of great success. The story presents lessons for success against obstacles and challenges faced by the Palestinians, and demonstrates how to achieve glory despite suffering, “It’s the story of a child, who grows up to become a legend, a child who went through suffering, however, he never gave up, and from the harsh life he suffered, he created  a promising future for his family, country and nation and became a landmark and example of a genius, creative, leading and successful personality and a name that is always mentioned in intellectual, social and humanitarian spheres.”