Football can play an important role in protecting education, says Al Thawadi
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and the power of football can protect and encourage education for all, said Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), at a high-level virtual event yesterday to mark the first International Day to Protect Education from Attack.
The event was jointly organized by Education Above All, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Save Our Future and the Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) and the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations (UN).
The day seeks to promote global action to protect education from continued and deliberate attacks.
A number of high-level speakers joined the virtual event, which saw opening speeches from Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of EAA, and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocate, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and António Guterres, UN Secretary-General.
Tijjani Muhammad Bande, President of the 74th Session of the General Assembly, and England footballing legend David Beckham, who is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and founder of the 7 Fund for UNICEF also took part in the event.
Speaking in a panel discussion on promoting effective policy choices and public action during the pandemic, Al Thawadi said, “Protecting education from attack is an important tenet of The State of Qatar’s international commitments. Our country is steadfast in wanting to resolve conflict through dialogue and negotiation. And sport - football in particular - can play an important role in contributing to that protection.”
Al Thawadi also highlighted some of the beneficiaries of the SC’s Generation Amazing program, the organization’s flagship football for development program which uses the power of football to teach key life skills to children and youth in Qatar and globally.
“Sport teaches us so much. It allows self-expression, develops character, and fosters freedom of spirit. We’re using the World Cup in 2022, and the power of football, to protect and encourage education for all,” said Al Thawadi.
Al Thawadi ended his appearance by sharing the inspirational story of Generation Amazing beneficiary, Mahira Ahmed Miyanji from Karachi, Pakistan. With dedication and through the help of Generation Amazing, Miyanji was able to continue her work with Women Is A Nation (WIN), a non-governmental organization she founded which advocates education and equal rights for girls in Pakistan.
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“Long after the winning team has lifted the trophy at the World Cup in 2022, the legacy of the tournament will resonate in the stories of Mahira and others who continue to strive for education – aided by the special power and potential of sport," the SC official said.
Launched during Qatar’s successful bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2022™, Generation Amazing seeks to aid communities with identified needs through a football-driven methodology and strategy of training.
Both on the pitch and in classrooms, the program’s mission is to activate individuals’ skills in communication, teamwork, and leadership for the benefit of the wider community.
Generation Amazing has reached over 500,000 beneficiaries in Asia and the Middle East. The program aims to positively impact one million people via unique football for development training sessions by the time the first ball is kicked at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
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