The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) will fund a set of projects for Palestine, which will be implemented in the second half of 2021, in partnership with the Palestinian National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science.
The projects cover the Organization’s action areas in education, science, and culture will benefit all Palestinian geographical locations in northern and southern governorates and rural communities while prioritizing support to Jerusalem.
ICESCO Director-General Salim al-Malik asserted the Organization’s commitment to supporting the sectors of education, culture, and science in Palestine.
Malik noted that the organization’s contribution to such projects is in support of the Palestinian cause in light of the fierce violations committed against Palestinians, especially the recurrent violations targeting Jerusalem, including al-Aqsa Mosque, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, as well as the forced expulsion of Palestinians from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah and other regions of the city.
Head of the Palestinian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science Ali Abu Zuhri thanked ICESCO Director-General for the Organization’s prompt approval of the Palestinian project proposals for 2021.
Abu Zuhri, who is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, noted that the projects are the product of joint efforts and coordination with official partners, including ministries, government institutions, and competent civil society institutions.
Besides, Abu Zuhri underlined the importance of working in coordination with competent partners for the project and program implementation, which focus on ICESCO’s main areas of action, catering to people with special needs, media development, women empowerment, artificial intelligence, and technical education, music therapy, and supporting rural communities.
He also praised ICESCO’s initiative for increasing the number of scholarships awarded to Palestinian university students.
Abu Zuhri stated that operating under the umbrella of ICESCO provides Palestine with a valuable opportunity to develop programs and projects in line with the Organization’s priorities, orientations, and national priorities in light of the current challenging circumstances.