Qatar Charity opens shelter for displaced children in South Mali

Qatar Charity (QC) has opened a shelter  for children who fled to South Mali along with their parents . The centre was opened by QC in June to help students catch up with the lessons they had missed. QC executive director for International Operations, Mohamed Mubarak al-Adassani, said the initiative was aimed at easing  the sufferings of parents and to make the 2011-2012 school year succeed, through giving the students an equal opportunity as their peers in the stable regions of Mali. The inauguration ceremony of the shelter  was attended by the Malian minister for Public Education and other senior officials. According to the Malian Education Ministry (MEM), there are around 2,000 students of different grades and levels displaced and stranded with their parents in the displacement areas of Mali and other neighbouring countries. In joint efforts by QC and MEM, 200 students were absorbed into the system, with 100 of them at the QC shelter. QC undertook all the related expenses and paid special attention to their healthcare at the adjacent health centre, which has specialised medical staff. The other students were taken into public schools and QC assisted them with stationery, clothes and food. QC has recently launched a variety of development projects to enhance stability there. Among them is a small soap factory which was handed over to locals alongside five multi-purpose grain grinders. Local societies were also supported with seeds, and farming tools. QC has also set up collection houses at an estimated cost of QR150,0000 as well as many other relief projects including drinking water projects. From gulftimes