June 23,  2009 (WAM) -- Islamic Relief (IR) in partnership with Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) have signed an agreement to implement School Rehabilitation Project. ROTA funded the project with 4.7 million dollars while the IR contributed with one million dollars aiming at reconstructing the damaged schools in the Gaza Strip after the war. Mr. Lotfi Al-Sayed, IR Head of the Middle East Department, highlighted the importance of this project in reviving the educational process in the Gaza Strip pointing out the hard efforts of Islamic Relief team in the Gaza Strip in gaining the ROTA trust to carry out such a big project through IR.

Dr. Mohammed Alsousi, IR Head of Mission in Palestine, explained that this project will be implemented within two years: there will be rehabilitation and maintenance for 22 schools; 14 of them were partially damaged and 8 of them heavily damaged. The project also includes providing necessary equipments to help functioning laboratories and libraries in the schools, besides holding training courses for teachers.

It is worthy mentioning that Islamic Relief is interested in improving the surrounding learning environment through implementing other similar projects in the educational sector such as already implemented School Rehabilitation Project for six schools and Renovation of twenty partially damaged ones.

Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) is a Qatari non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in November 2005 under the auspices of the heir apparent, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and guided by Her Excellency Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. ROTA supports this ideal and believes that every man, woman and child across the Asian continent, regardless of age, gender or circumstance, should have access to quality education.