Emirati woman donates Dh5m towards education endowment fund for orphans

The National -- An Emirati woman donated Dh5 million to Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation in Dubai on behalf of her late husband on Tuesday.

Dawlat Al Mahmoud's contribution will go towards an endowment fund to finance higher education for children and orphans under the foundation's care.

Three months ago, Ms Al Mahmoud donated Dh20m towards establishing the fund.

To thank her the foundation named the library at Family Village, a centre that offers a healthy environment for the country's orphans, after Ms Al Mahmoud and her late husband, Abdulghafoor Gargash.

The Dh150m village in Al Warqa consists of 16 villas and is supported by charitable donations from across the UAE. It was officially inaugurated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, in June 2016.

Ms Al Mahmoud's donation on Tuesday was the first made to the foundation this year and was made in accordance with the declaration of 2018 as the Year of Zayed.

“This timely contribution is an outstanding example of the importance of giving and patriotism. We could not have asked for a better start to the Year of Zayed," said Tayeb Al Rais, the foundation's secretary general.

"The benevolence of the Emirati woman is a testament to the UAE’s sustained emphasis on giving and charity that has been embedded in us by late [Founding Father] Sheikh Zayed."

Mr Al Rais said he hoped the contribution would inspire others to do the same.

Ms Al Mahmoud said she was happy to invest in a long-term project.

“I was pleased to invest in Amaf's education endowment, which will make an enduring impact rather than use the donation for a purpose that offers short-term benefits," she said.

"In earmarking the sum for student scholarships, Amaf has ensured that this contribution from my husband, may Allah be pleased with him, and myself translates into an everlasting act of charity."

Annual revenue from the education endowment will go towards university scholarships for orphans with outstanding academic achievements to study at the University of Dubai, University of Sharjah, Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and other national and international universities based in the UAE.

Beneficiary students will be encouraged to pursue specialist studies that are in demand across the UAE and that support the country's aims of enhancing its global competitiveness.