Jawaher Al Qasimi Donates her Coat to the ‘Jeans for Refugees’ Charity Initiative

The wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment (NAMA) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)’s Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children, has donated her coat to the global movement ‘Jeans for Refugees’.

Symbolising the contribution of Her Highness (HH) to global cultural and humanitarian issues, the personal item of clothing has been redesigned by renowned fashion designer and artist Johnny Dar, Founder of the Jeans for Refugees initiative. He has reimagined the garment that Her Highness wore during the humanitarian trip to the refugee camps of Zaatari, Jordan in 2014, turning it into a masterpiece of art which will be exhibited alongside 100 pairs of jeans donated by international celebrities at the Saatchi Gallery between 24th of October till 30th of October in London.

All pieces on display at the Saatchi Gallery exhibition are also being auctioned online. The exhibition been organised jointly by NAMA and Jeans for Refugees, with the proceeds from the sale going to the International Rescue Committee in support of the National Emergency Response Programme and women development programmes.

Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi has called on the Emirati community to participate in the auction, pointing out that it will result in practical help being given to refugees through the funds that it will raise. Her Highness made her plea as part of a broader observation that the world is going through an exceptionally unstable period and that wars and conflicts are claiming the lives of innocent people in many countries across the world, especially in the Middle East, causing an unprecedented increase in the numbers of asylum-seekers.

HH Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi’s concern was highlighted by the UNHCR in the Global Trends report, which was released by the UN Refugee Agency last May. The report indicated that a total of 65.3 million people worldwide were displaced by the end of 2015. Her Highness has consistently emphasised that the conscience of mankind puts everybody under a moral obligation to help solve this crisis and to imbue refugees’ hearts with hope.

“I felt her full heart in the creation of her coat, and I feel when someone is walking a path at one with their heart, that their path naturally becomes golden. Her Highness is carrying the refugee matter in her heart, weaving the golden thread around it like a mother would hug her child. It’s the gold that money just can’t buy – as we can only receive this gold from a full-hearted gift. Thank you for all your gifts that you are giving the world.” said Johnny Dar.

In September of last year, Jeans for Refugees chose Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi to be the Honorary Patron of its humanitarian project in recognition of her dedicated efforts to make the world a better and more secure place for refugees. It was also in appreciation of her key role in addressing global humanitarian and social issues and in bringing about positive change in the international community.

The Jeans for Refugees initiative aims to spread an influential message through the medium of art. It seeks to empower people to collaborate for a common goal and to create a better and brighter world for displaced persons through the involvement of popular celebrities from the worlds of cinema, art, fashion and music.

Anyone wishing to view the exhibited garments that are included in the Jeans for Refugees initiatives and to take part in the online auction should visit the campaign’s official website: catawiki.comjeansforrefugees. The auction will be closing on Sunday October 30th 8PM, GMT/ UTC