The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) has called on people around the world to support the "Zakat" initiatives and generously donate during Ramadan to help refugees and communities in need. The Big Heart Foundation is a UAE-based global humanitarian charity providing help and support to refugees and people in need across the world.

In line with its comprehensive long-term program, TBHF has launched various fundraising activities under the "Let’s Lessen the Gap" campaign. The Foundation has partnered with four leading UN agencies (UNHCR, UNDP, WHO, and UNICEF) to mitigate humanitarian development challenges aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic among vulnerable sections in the MENA region.

The comprehensive program will provide a blueprint for various COVID-response strategies undertaken by TBHF in the long term. At the same time, it will include advocacy campaigns to bridge the gaps in key sectors such as education, healthcare, protection, and livelihood which have been facing severe repercussions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the program, both the critical health and non-healthcare needs of marginalized sections of society will be addressed by the Foundation.

People can contribute to the campaign via SMS by sending the word ‘sadaqah' to the Etisalat numbers: 7857 to donate AED10; 7859 to donate AED50, 7788 to donate AED100, or 7708 to donate AED500. Du users can send the word ‘sadaqa’ to 9965 to donate AED10; 9967 to donate AED50, 9968 to donate AED100.

The Foundation is also accepting Zakat contributions directly into Zakat Fund account no: 0011-430430-020 at the Sharjah Islamic Bank (International Bank Account Number ‘IBAN’: AE040410000011430430020).

Speaking about the initiative, Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of the foundation, said that the goal of TBHF is to ensure collective ability to support the needs of the most vulnerable communities in the region amid these difficult times and beyond. The Foundation aims to drive efforts towards inclusive programs to address the economic and social consequences of the pandemic crisis, she added.

Al Hammadi underlined that while 2020 was a challenging year, it demonstrated collective resilience across the UAE such that offices, schools, and essential services continued their operations without fail.

WAM