EU donates €300,000 Nobel Peace Prize money to UNICEF Pakistan

The Express Tribune

The European Union has provided €300,000 from its Nobel Peace Prize money to Unicef Pakistan to support its educational activities for children affected by a lack of security in parts of Northwestern Pakistan. The agreement was formalised in Islamabad on Wednesday between Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, and Unicef Representative Islamabad, Dan Rohrmann. These funds, made available through the European Commission’s Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), will enable Unicef to provide access to education for 3,000 children, including 1,500 girls in 30 schools currently operating in the Jalozai Camp, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Children are extremely vulnerable to conflicts and their education is often suffering,” Wigemark. “They risk carrying the burden of conflict throughout their lives. It is fitting that the Nobel Peace Prize funds benefit those who carry the hope for the future.” Unicef has been providing educational support to children in Jalozai Camp since 2008. The education package includes school-in-a-box supplies, training for teachers, education for peace training and psychosocial counseling that will help children cope with traumatic experiences. “Unicef Pakistan wishes to congratulate the EU for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and is honoured to receive support for providing education to children affected by displacement and deprived of their fundamental right to quality education,” said Rohrmann. “These funds will provide an opportunity for children to reconnect with a safe learning environment that not only provides quality education but also gives some sense of normalcy to the many children that find themselves away from their normal social network and known environment.” In camp schools, these children not only receive education but also benefit from other basic services such as health, water, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition and protection interventions which ensure holistic childhood development.