Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
From Sharjah to East Africa, the Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi Humanitarian Foundation (KSQF) has always put people at the core of all its operations — ensuring the protection of vulnerable children.
In the heart of the KSQF is a mission to create a safer world for children, in honour of the legacy of the late Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi who had firmly advocated for the cause.
In an interview with Aletihad, Lujan Mourad, Director at KSQF provided insights into the inspiration behind the foundation's establishment in 2024 and its drive to protect the vulnerable children worldwide.
“The foundation is chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi and is dedicated to protecting and empowering vulnerable children in developing countries,” Mourad said.
“The KSQF was founded to address the critical gaps in child protection and development through strategic partnerships, impactful programmes and sustainable solutions that empower vulnerable children and communities.”
The goal is to safeguard children from the effects of armed conflict, disasters and poverty, Mourad said.
Through a comprehensive approach, the foundation ensures that these vulnerable children have access to education, identity documentation, health services, and psychosocial support.
The foundation takes a proactive approach when it comes to crucial issues such as forced labour.
To address such risks, the KSQF implements “safeguarding initiatives that prioritise early intervention and access to essential services such as education and healthcare”, Mourad said.
“The foundation works closely with policymakers to advocate for child-centered policies that strengthen labour laws and reinforce child protection measures,” she added.
KSQF partners with international agencies and grassroots organisations to promote economic support to needy families to alleviate financial stress that pushes children into work.
Prevention and advocacy strategies are woven into the organisation’s fabric for the purpose of securing a future for children.
The approach to community engagements is further reiterated since it constitutes the heart of the KSQF’s strategy in the fight against child exploitation.
They work towards training families about children’s rights, promoting positive parenting, and strengthening protection measures through local awareness campaigns and other partnerships.
KSQF collaborates with grassroots organisations to develop community-led initiatives, ensuring that communities are empowered and provided with knowledge and tools to prevent exploitation sustainably.
“Collaboration is at the core of KSQF’s approach to child protection,” Mourad said.
“The foundation partners with various stakeholders, including humanitarian and development organisations, NGOs, and government entities to develop and implement initiatives that safeguard children from exploitation. Through these partnerships, KSQF works to raise awareness, advocate for policy changes, and strengthen legal frameworks that prioritise child protection.”
It teams up with entities that share its values and commitment to ethical, sustainable child protection practices.
Mourad shared that while KSQF is still in its early stages, it has already formed impactful partnerships with local organisations like Crescent Petroleum, Beeah, and Sharjah Sports Club to support its mission through financial and in-kind contributions.
“In addition, we are in the process of signing agreements with international nonprofit organisations to support the effective delivery of our programmes on the ground and we will be announcing these partnerships soon.”
Measuring impact is also a key part of KSQF’s work, Mourad said.
“The foundation collaborates closely with its partners to carry out locally driven needs assessments, making sure its programmes stay relevant and truly address community priorities. KSQF sees impact as real, measurable change that comes from its investments, following a clear process where resources translate into action, progress, and achieve meaningful outcomes.”
KSQF’s future goals focus on strengthening policy advocacy to drive systemic changes in child protection laws and expanding sustainable partnerships to empower communities to safeguard children.
The ultimate objective is to create a safer world for all children whose rights, welfare, and future are secured.
