An Iftar dinner organized by the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims successfully raised over Sh 15 million in two hours for refugee education in Kenya this past weekend.
The dinner held at the Intercontinental hotel had dignitary speakers including H.E. Ali Bunow Korane, the Governor of Garissa County; Ambassador Mohamed Mahat, SUPKEM Secretary General, and Ambassador Yusuf A. Nzibo, SUPKEM Chairman,H.E. Mohamoud Ahmed Nur, Somali Ambassador to Kenya, representatives from embassies of Turkey, Pakistan, Arab League, and the UAE.
“ I was inspired by the refugee youth speakers at the dinner and was incredibly encouraged to see a diverse group of change-makers gather together for one evening to support the plight of people forced to flee by investing in their education,” said Fathiaa Abdalla, UNHCR Representative in Kenya.
“This fundraising Iftar highlights the unity and community spirit of Kenyans,” said Ambassador Mohamed Affey, UNHCR Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa. “Almost half of refugee school-aged children are not attending school in Kenya. Together, our community responded to this increasing crisis by donating generously to improve refugee access to education.”
Kenya hosts more than 450,000 refugees, 77 percent of whom are women and children.
The majority of refugee children living in Kenya’s Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps only have access to primary education.
More than two-thirds of refugee school-age children do not have access to secondary school and 87 per cent of refugee youth do not have access to tertiary education.
“The holy month of Ramadan has brought our community together to support this worthy cause. What we have seen from the UNHCR & SUPKEM Iftar dinner is that we can provide much more than just a meal to needy people – we can invest in their future,” said Dr. Yusuf A. Nzibo, SUPKEM Chairman
The dinner was organized as a part a Campaign running for the entire period of Ramadan.
