DIB DONATES 3,200,000 DIRHAMS TO SUPPORT SHARJAH CITY FOR HUMANITARIAN SERVICES
On Sunday, February 7, 2021, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) received a 3,200,000 AED check from Dubai Islamic Bank as their contribution to SCHS Zakat campaign for 2020, organized under the theme (Your Zakat to support our education). SCHS organized the campaign during the holy month of Ramadan last year to emphasize its role in supporting the services offered to people with disabilities, paying tuition fees for students who cannot afford financially, and providing the latest technologies to support their education.
Consequently, Her Highness Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director General of SCHS, directed her sincerest thanks to the continuous support and contributions of Dubai Islamic Bank. This emphasizes DIB's religious and community commitment and keenness to support SCHS in providing educational services to persons with disabilities in accordance with international best practices.
Her Highness said, “Despite the challenges posed by COVID 19, SCHS has from the beginning adopted an advanced strategy to educate persons with disabilities remotely through its educational and training platforms. In addition to employing its website and social media to ensure the continuity of education and communication between specialists, students and parents”.
With the highest levels of security and safety, SCHS received its students within the hybrid education system (face-to-face and distance). SCHS continued to provide its services without interruption, since its inception 42 years ago, because SCHS adopted the issues of persons with disabilities and believed in their rights, foremost of which is their right to education.
SCHS has been always keen to consolidate the relationships of cooperation with local, regional, and international bodies and organizations. It aims to keep abreast of the latest practices and improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities, noting the remarkable increase in the number of students benefiting from its services from various disabilities.
SCHS relies in its zakat campaign on the fatwa issued by the Permanent Fatwa Committee in the Emirate of Sharjah that permits the collection, acceptance and presentation of zakat to persons with disabilities who are within the categories defined by the Holy Quran.
(The alms are only for the poor and the needy, and those who collect them, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free the captives and the debtors, and for the Cause of Allah, and (for) the wayfarer. A duty imposed by Allah. Allah is Knower, Wise). Surat I-tawba (Repentance). In addition, it is permissible to collect alms other than zakat to support the services provided to people with disabilities and help them in humanitarian terms. All the verses and hadiths that encourage cooperation in righteousness and piety, desires and encourages charity agrees upon this unanimously. It is permissible to pay the annual fees incurred by students with disabilities who are unable to pay these installments.
Her Highness the Director General of SCHS stated that the average cost of educating and training one student with disability amounts to at least 30 thousand dirhams per academic year. Despite this, 80% of the total students in SCHS receive coverage for their tuition fees from the Zakat Fund (Nama), provided annually with zakat and charity funds, which Islam has specified in eight categories, all of the needy groups.
Sheikha Jameela considered that the contribution of Dubai Islamic Bank clearly indicates its seriousness and exercising its social responsibilities. SCHS invite all institutions and companies to emulate due to the good and benefit it brings to society in general and for persons with disabilities and their families in particular. She thanked the Chairman and members of the Board of Directors of Dubai Islamic Bank for their continuous cooperation and unwavering support for SCHS.
She has confirmed that one of the most important priorities of SCHS is to educate the community about the issues of persons with disabilities and to change attitudes and negative perceptions about them. In order to achieve societal integration based on respect and appreciation, and the opportunity for persons with disabilities to achieve all their rights, including the right to education, employment and work.
She said, "The number of persons with disabilities who have benefited from SCHS's services over the past twenty years has exceeded 30,000, while the number of its employees has reached 631, 60 of whom are persons with disabilities".
“SCHS forms specialized committee to study the economic and social situation of the families of persons with disabilities. This committee determines precisely who falls into the category of the poor and needy because of the inability to earn or meet the necessary needs due to the high cost of education or treatment. Therefore, SCHS, as a non-governmental organization, spends Zakat on the education and care of these persons with disabilities.
In conclusion, Her Highness Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi appreciated the permanent cooperation of Dubai Islamic Bank with SCHS. She also appreciated the support it provides annually to the education of persons with disabilities in accordance with international best practices. Sheikha Jameela called on all individuals and institutions, each according to their position and ability to emulate this approach.