Big Heart’s ‘SMS’ campaign expands humane efforts
The TBHF has announced an expansion of its ‘Big Heart Dirham’ SMS donation platform to include du mobile service users, after a successful launch with Etisalat last year
The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) has announced an expansion of its “Big Heart Dirham” SMS donation platform to include du mobile service users, ater a successful launch with Etisalat last year.
Du users can now support refugees and those in need of humanitarian support for an entire year automatically by simply sending one SMS to the number 1105. Donors have two donation values to choose from. By sending an SMS with the word “Humanity” in the body text, the donor pledges Dh1 every day for 365 days, which will be deducted automatically by Du from their accounts.
By opting for the word “Support,” the donor pledges Dhs5 a day to TBHF, which will be transferred automatically from their mobile accounts to TBHF’S by du for an entire year, starting the day they sign up to the “Big Heart Dirham” campaign. Those who pledge to this value will make an annual contribution of Dhs1,825 to leading humanitarian causes championed by the Sharjah-based humanitarian organisation.
Last year, TBHF launched the “Big Heart Dirham” public donation channel to Etisalat mobile service users to help hundreds of thousands less fortunate and refugees around the world. The one-time SMS by Etisalat users needs to be sent to 1110, with the word “Humanity” in the body text to pledge Dh1 every day for 365 days. To pledge Dhs5 every day, the SMS text needs to say “Support.”
Recently, the TBHF dedicated to helping refugees and people in need worldwide, has launched a social media campaign with the hashtag #Notanumber.
The campaign aims to drive a change in people’s perception about refugees – to stop seeing them as a community defined by a ‘number’ or a socioeconomic pressure on host nations, instead seeing them as individuals with aspirations and talents similar to those of non-refugees.
The campaign coincides with TBHF’S preparations to host the third edition of the Sharjah International Award for Refugee Advocacy and Support, organised in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). It shares the award’s goal in paying tribute to individuals and organisations who have made positive changes in the lives of refugees or the internally displaced.
Regarding the campaign, Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of TBHF, said, “The campaign is addressing a burning issue, trying to change existing perceptions about refugees; and reminds us to address the way we look at them. One should never forget that a refugee is someone who has been forced to abandon their home and flee their country. These are people with education and skills, who can tremendously benefit host communities. Not only that, their first-hand experiences in building lives in foreign lands are valuable lessons for us as we try to devise the most appropriate solutions for the refugee problem.”
#Notanumber features success stories of refugees who live and work in Lebanon, Germany and Malaysia. In these personal accounts, one sees the pride and confidence of these strong individuals, who have not given up on their dignity or their hope for a secure and a stable future.
In June this year, the TBHF has signed an agreement with Nadia’s Initiative, founded by Nadia Murad, co-recipient of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, to support the Initiative’s global advocacy efforts to rebuild Sinjar and enable the safe return of internally displaced Yazidis back to their homes.
The Sharjah-based global humanitarian charity has pledged a $216,000 financial grant to grow the Sinjar Action Fund, SAF, which was established by Nadia’s Initiative to advance advocacy and reconstruction efforts in the region. The funds will be mobilised by SAF until October 2019.
The Big Heart Foundation is a humanitarian charity that was established in 2015 ater a range of humanitarian initiatives and campaigns launched by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Muhammad Al Qasimi. TBHF aims to provide protection for children in need and their families. Although the foundation concentrates its efforts in the Arab world, it provides support to affected areas worldwide.