As I approach my 30th birthday, I decided to combine my passion for running with a heartfelt mission to make a difference in Palestine. I will be running the Royal Parks Half Marathon in support of the Ajyal Foundation for Education. So instead of traditional birthday gifts, I'm asking for your help to make a real impact. 

The Ajyal Foundation is dedicated to providing high-quality, research-led education to disadvantaged communities with a special emphasis on Palestinians and refugees.  Having seen first hand the impact good education can have on people's lives, their mission aligns with my belief that education can be a powerful tool for change. By supporting early childhood education, aiding children with special needs, promoting innovation in education, and enhancing access to arts and culture education, the foundation creates a holistic educational environment.

I kindly ask you to join me in this endeavour by donating to the Ajyal Foundation. Your contribution, no matter how small, will directly impact the lives of those in need and foster a brighter future. 

Thanks

Husam

Education provided to Palestinian children and youth has been critically undermined due to decades of occupation, measures of control and restriction, reoccurring military attacks, settler violence, and weak national due processes. In Palestine, by the age of 15 nearly 25% of boys and 7% of girls drop out of school (UNCIEF, 2018). Only 52.7% of children aged 7-14 demonstrate foundational reading skills (UNICEF, 2021). 31% of high school students fail their GCSE equivalent exams (Palsawa, 2019). 90% of children living in Gaza have been diagnosed with PTSD since the military attack of May 2021 (EuroMedMonitor, 2021). All of Ajyal’s education projects help children R.I.S.E. by creating an educational environment that is: Respectful, Inclusive, Safe and Engaging.