New funding will support Palestinian children and families in Gaza and Egypt amid ongoing humanitarian crisis and genocide.
Since 2023, Malala Fund has supported frontline organizations providing critical services to girls, children and families in Gaza. Today, we are announcing new funding of $100,000 to The International Network for Aid, Relief, and Assistance (INARA) to continue and scale this vital work for Palestinian children whose access to education and other life-saving services has been affected by ongoing violence and displacement.
“Since October 2023, I have directed Malala Fund’s support to frontline organizations serving Palestinians in Gaza, especially children, while calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire,” said Malala Yousafzai, Malala Fund Co-Founder and Executive Chair. “Nearly two years later, Israel continues its brutal genocide, with over 20,000 children killed and hundreds of thousands more in need of critical support. I am announcing new funding today to help INARA support Palestinians living in Gaza and in Egypt as refugees. Every Palestinian girl, child and family must be able to return home and live safely and with dignity in a free Palestine.This horror must end.”
Malala made the announcement in Cairo, Egypt, on a visit in support of INARA’s work and Palestinian girls’ right to education through this crisis. During the visit, she met with refugee families and injured children receiving medical care through INARA.
Through this partnership, Malala Fund and INARA will provide life-saving education and psychosocial support to displaced and vulnerable children. The initiative will:
Expand educational support for Palestinian refugee children from Gaza in Egypt: Distribute 1,400 educational kits, including textbooks, school supplies, and learning materials, ensuring displaced children can continue their education safely, whether in informal classrooms or through e-learning.
Strengthen 10 temporary learning spaces in Gaza: Equip safe, child-friendly classrooms with furniture, learning materials, and operational support to keep students connected to education.
Offer mental health and psychosocial support: Provide structured group sessions for 480 children, and individualized, trauma-informed care for 60 children experiencing acute psychological distress, helping them cope with the devastating impacts of violence and displacement.
Promote literacy, emotional expression, and social engagement: Implement five adolescent reading initiatives, including reading circles, guided reflection, and peer-based activities to foster literacy, emotional resilience, and community connection.
“Gaza has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. In my four trips to Gaza since October 7, I’ve seen how children are so desperate to learn, they are willing to sit in the sweltering sun under a flimsy tarp or freezing cold for their lessons,” said Arwa Damon, President and Founder of INARA. “We are so grateful for this grant which will allow us to reach and provide education and mental health services for even more Palestinian children in Gaza and Egypt."
Malala Fund is committed to every girl’s right to access and complete education. Conflict, including war and genocide, is often the biggest driver keeping girls out of school. Malala Fund stands in solidarity with girls, children and families in Palestine, demanding immediate and decisive global action to protect their lives, uphold their right to education, and hold those responsible for violence and war crimes fully accountable.
Today’s announcement brings Malala Fund’s support for frontline organizations helping Palestinians to $700,000. Since 2023, Malala Fund has awarded grants to Anera, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, UNRWA USA, INARA, RAWA Fund and KinderUSA.
About INARA: The International Network for Aid, Relief, and Assistance (INARA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing essential medical and mental health support to children affected by human-induced and natural disasters. Founded in 2015, INARA operates in Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria, and Türkiye, with plans to expand into Sudan and Yemen.
