Jerusalem – The Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency (BMAQ), affiliated with the Al-Quds Committee chaired by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, launched on Wednesday a schoolbag and stationery distribution campaign across several areas of Jerusalem and its outskirts, targeting students from underprivileged families ahead of the 2026–2027 school year.
The initiative, carried out as part of the Agency’s Social and Economic Back-to-School Program in Jerusalem and its commitment to supporting the education sector under its 2027–2030 Integrated Program, provides more than 3,000 schoolbags stocked with essential stationery. The initiative is funded by the Fez Municipal Council and the Moroccan Association for the Support of Reconstruction in Palestine.
The distribution began in the village of Nabi Samwil, northwest of Jerusalem, before extending to Silwan, south of the Old City, where it reached students from the Siraj Al-Quds Association and School, Al-Bustan Institution, and the Jerusalemite Youth Cultural Forum (JYCF), as well as beneficiaries of the Umm Lison Women’s Association in Ras Al-Amud and the Wadi Al-Joz Charitable Association.
The initiative also extends to Al-Ram, Jaba’, Damascus Gate, the Old City, Al-Mazra’a, Al-Tur, Herod’s Gate, Beit Hanina, the Shuafat and Qalandia refugee camps, Al-Jadira, Bir Nabala, and Al-Eizariya.
It targets upper-primary and secondary school students from low-income families, including orphans and children with special needs, as well as students enrolled in schools under the Jerusalem Directorate of Education in Jerusalem and its surrounding areas, with particular attention given to schools facing the greatest levels of need.
Each schoolbag comes with a comprehensive set of essential school supplies, including a durable backpack designed for daily use, Arabic and English notebooks, drawing pads, pens, writing and colouring materials, a pencil case, and other supplies needed by students.
On the occasion, BMAQ stressed that the initiative constitutes a social and humanitarian intervention designed to ease the financial burden on families in need in Jerusalem, support students as they begin the new school year, and strengthen the resilience of Jerusalemite families by helping their children remain in education. It underscored that education is a fundamental pillar in preserving the city’s authentic Palestinian identity.
Aliyan Majdi Aliyan Obeid, a child from Nabi Samwil village, expressed his happiness with the schoolbag he received, noting that it contained the school supplies he needed, including a ruler, pens, and notebooks.
“I was very happy when I received the schoolbag and notebooks because everything I need for school is now ready. I am excited to go back to school. Thank you to the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency and Morocco,” he said.
For her part, nine-year-old Naghm Barakat said: “The schoolbag is beautiful, and I am very happy that I received it. I learned that it is from Morocco. Thank you to them.” She added that she was particularly happy with the colours and notebooks it contained.
Nour Aliyan, a mother of three school-aged children, said the initiative had helped ease the financial burden of preparing children for the new school year, particularly amid challenging economic conditions. “Thank you for the school supplies. You have made things easier for us, especially families with several children,” she said, expressing her gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan people.
Nawal Barakat, President of the Nabi Samwil Women’s Association and a teacher at the village school, said the initiative provides valuable support to the village’s children as they begin the new school year. She expressed her appreciation to the Fez Municipal Council and the Moroccan Association for the Support of Reconstruction in Palestine for their continued support.
She added that providing schoolbags and stationery “strengthens the resilience of the village’s residents and brings joy to children and their families,” noting that the support extended by BMAQ and the provision of essential school supplies enable students to start the new school year in better conditions.
Hayat Saghir, Director of Public Relations at the Umm Lison Women’s Association, said Morocco’s support for Jerusalem’s orphans and families in need is especially valuable in these difficult circumstances. She noted that the schoolbags bring joy to children and help them start the school year on an equal footing with their peers.
For his part, Taysir Al-Rajabi, President of the Siraj Al-Quds Association and School, said the initiative “eases the financial burden on families,” particularly those with several children, amid difficult economic conditions. He expressed his gratitude to BMAQ, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and the Kingdom of Morocco.
Mohammed Al-Awar, Director of the Jerusalemite Youth Cultural Forum, said the initiative provides students with essential school supplies and helps them return to school with the resources they need, helping to ease feelings of hardship or exclusion. He expressed his appreciation to BMAQ, the Fez Municipal Council, and the Moroccan Association for the Support of Reconstruction in Palestine.
On July 15, 2026, in Ramallah, BMAQ announced the main components of its integrated 2027–2030 program to support education and training in Jerusalem. The program focuses on improving the school environment, expanding scholarships and training opportunities for Jerusalemite students at Palestinian and Moroccan universities, supporting student projects through a startup and digital technology incubator, and promoting extracurricular activities and the preservation of Palestinian identity.
