HH Sheikha Moza takes message of hope for 10 million children to New York

In New York on Thursday some of the city’s best known philanthropists gathered to meet Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser UNESCO’s Special Envoy for Education. In an evening attended by benefactors and celebrities, Her Highness sought to raise awareness of the 61 million children worldwide who are denied a primary school education:

“These 61 million have been forgotten by the world. It is unacceptable. Educate A Child has set itself the goal of reaching 10 million of these by the end of 2015. This may sound ambitious, but I know it is possible. In just four months, we have reached out to 600,000. There is so much to do, but we cannot do it alone.” Said Sheikha Moza. 

The venue was Jazz at the Lincoln Centre and guests were treated to a special performance from jazz legend, Wynton Marsalis, with special guest Chick Corea. The evening was generously hosted by Jazz At Lincoln Center and Qatar Airways, who had the day before, announced their support for EAC at a press conference with a multi-year programme of support. 

Educate A Child is a programme led by Sheikha Moza that seeks to provide a quality primary education to children affected by conflict, natural disasters and restrictive cultural practices. After a series of field trips by Her Highness, EAC was launched in Doha last November and has already found school places for over 600,000 children.
It is a cause that aims to make a powerful impression on New Yorkers. 

“We have to shock, to shake, to provoke the people of the world to make them wake up to be part of this engagement.” Said Marcio Barbosa, Chief Executive of the Education Above All Foundation, which runs the EAC programme. 

As well as promoting awareness of the children, Her Highness received a presentation from Mr. Marsalis, a native of New Orleans, in thanks for Qatar’s assistance in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Quoting His Highness The Emir of Qatar on his visit to New Orleans in 2008, Mr. Marsalis said:
““We are all neighbors in a small and fragile world.” This is a statement that still rings true today as life grows increasingly challenging, especially for children.”