Marrakech – Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Sharjah Family and Community Council, has launched 65 university research grants and multiple humanitarian initiatives during her recent official visit to Morocco.
The academic grants, part of the “Jawaher Grant for Academic Advancement of Women” program, were established in collaboration with two prominent Moroccan universities – Cadi Ayyad University (UCA) in Marrakech and Al Akhawayn University (AUI) in Ifrane.
The program aims to support research and expand opportunities for higher education in various scientific and technological fields.
During her visit to UCA, Sheikha Jawaher met with university president Belaid Boukadir and toured innovation facilities and research laboratories. A memorandum of understanding was signed, providing 45 research grants for postgraduate students focusing on fields including science, technology, health, social sciences, business, and finance.
An additional agreement with AUI established 20 more research grants for faculty members and students. The agreement was signed by Mariam Al Hammadi, Director General of NAMA Women Advancement, and Amine Bensaid, President of Al Akhawayn University.
“Building nations begins with developing human minds and providing tools for research, knowledge, and work,” said Sheikha Jawaher during the ceremony. “Every school, university, laboratory, and innovative idea is a foundation for a more stable and progressive future.”
‘No peace exists while any child suffers’
Beyond academic initiatives, Sheikha Jawaher also launched two major humanitarian projects aimed at protecting vulnerable children in Morocco.
These initiatives, implemented through the Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi Humanitarian Foundation (KSQF), will benefit over 5,000 children, families, and community members, including refugees and migrants from approximately 64 countries currently hosted in Morocco.
The first project, launched in partnership with Fondation Amane pour la Protection de l’Enfance (FAPE), focuses on improving child protection mechanisms in the Sous-Massa region.
This 17-month project will reach 740 direct beneficiaries and more than 5,000 family members while uniting efforts from 180 local and government institutions. It will strengthen local protection units and expand access to psychosocial and legal support.
The second initiative, “Cultivating the Future,” is being implemented in collaboration with The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) and Bayti Association.
This 18-month program will directly support 100 children and 140 family members by providing shelter, healthcare, education, and vocational training through Bayti’s Farm School, which uses agricultural training for psychosocial recovery.
Sheikha Jawaher stressed that these initiatives reflect the humanitarian values of the late Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi. “We cannot find peace knowing that there is a child who suffers or is deprived of care, education, or healthcare,” she said.
‘Empowered women build stronger families, communities, nations’
Additionally, Sheikha Jawaher launched two development initiatives in the village of Tansghart in the Al Haouz region, aimed at empowering rural women affected by the September 2023 earthquake.
The first initiative, funded by NAMA Women Advancement, focuses on improving livelihoods for approximately 100 women through sheep farming and livestock production projects. Beneficiaries are expected to generate annual incomes between $1,360 and $3,000 starting from the project’s second year.
The second initiative, funded by The Big Heart Foundation, will complete the construction and operation of an earthquake-resistant, eco-friendly rural community center in Tansghart. This center will serve as a comprehensive development hub providing services to more than 1,000 residents in earthquake-affected areas.
During her meetings with the Mayshad Foundation in Morocco, headed by Nezha Alaoui, Sheikha Jawaher listened to success stories from beneficiaries and discussed challenges faced by women seeking financial independence.
“The working woman is not merely a contributor to the economy; she is a force for building and stability,” she stated, adding that economic empowerment is “not a social option but a developmental necessity that benefits families, communities, and nations.”
The delegation accompanying Sheikha Jawaher included Noura Al Noman, Chairperson of her Executive Office; Eram Mazhar Alawi, First Advisor; Abdullah Al Hurimel, Economic Advisor; Mariam Al Hammadi, Director General of NAMA Women Advancement; Alya Al Musaiebi, Director of The Big Heart Foundation; and other officials from the participating organizations.
