Bank of Palestine launches the “Back to School” initiative to support first grade students in the Gaza Strip

Gaza - Ofoq News - As part of its ongoing humanitarian and community efforts to support our people in the Gaza Strip, and based on its belief in the importance of education and its role in promoting hope for a better future, the Bank of Palestine launched the Back to School initiative under the slogan “New Year, New Hope” to support first-grade students in a number of schools in the Gaza Strip, by distributing approximately 7,000 school bags, in addition to organizing entertainment and interactive activities for children, in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

This initiative coincides with the start of the new academic year, and within the framework of the Bank of Palestine’s efforts to support the education sector and support children, and contribute to providing some of their school needs and encourage them to continue their educational journey and return to school in a spirit of hope and optimism, despite the difficult circumstances and challenges they have experienced.

The initiative targets students in the first, second and third grades in a number of schools in various governorates of the Gaza Strip, giving priority to the areas and schools most in need. Including organizing entertaining and interactive activities within the targeted schools, including group activities, drawing, coloring, and movement activities, with the participation of female and male employees of the Bank of Palestine, with the aim of providing a positive atmosphere for children and adding a space of joy and interaction to their experience of returning to school.

The initiative includes schools distributed in a number of areas of the Gaza Strip, including Gaza, North Gaza, Khan Yunis, the central region, and Rafah, provided that the distribution operations are implemented according to the actual needs of the schools, the number of students, their accessibility, and the humanitarian priority, ensuring that support reaches the children and areas most in need.

In this context, Mahmoud Shawa, Director General of the Bank of Palestine, confirmed that the initiative stems from the Bank’s belief that supporting education is a priority at this stage, and that supporting children to return to their schools goes beyond providing school needs to enhancing their sense of hope, stability and continuity.

Shawa added: We want this initiative to convey to our children in Gaza a message that goes beyond the bag and stationery; A message saying that education will remain a door to hope and the future. Through it, we seek to stand by our children as they exercise their right to learn and return to their schools, and to contribute to making the beginning of their school year more positive and joyful.

The initiative falls within Bank of Palestine’s community efforts aimed at supporting education, investing in our children and enabling them to continue their academic journey, which contributes to promoting a more positive educational environment in the Gaza Strip.