Qatar’s Education Above All Foundation has received one of Colombia’s highest honours from the Colombian Congress in recognition of its efforts to protect education and support vulnerable children through programmes focused on conflict-affected and migration-impacted communities.
Qatar’s Education Above All (EAA) Foundation has been awarded the Simón Bolívar Order of Democracy – Grand Cross by the Congress of the Republic of Colombia, one of the country’s highest honours, in recognition of its efforts to protect education and expand access to learning for vulnerable children across the country.
The honour was presented during an official ceremony at the Colombian Congress in Bogotá, following visits to education programmes supporting children who are out of school or at risk of dropping out.
Colombian officials recognised the foundation’s ongoing collaboration with national institutions and local partners to support the right to education, particularly in communities affected by conflict, displacement, poverty, and migration.
Over the past two years, EAA has worked with Colombian institutions through its Protect Education in Insecurity and Conflict (PEIC) programme, which focuses on strengthening protections for schools, students, and teachers in areas affected by insecurity and violence. The initiative also supports accountability efforts related to attacks on education.
As part of the programme, EAA has collaborated with Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace and contributed to discussions surrounding draft legislation aimed at strengthening accountability for attacks on education, including the recruitment of children by armed groups and the targeting of teachers and schools. The proposed law is currently under review in Congress as part of wider efforts linked to peacebuilding and transitional justice.
The recognition also reflects EAA’s broader work to expand access to quality education in Colombia through its Educate A Child (EAC) programme, implemented in partnership with Fundación Pies Descalzos. The initiative focuses on supporting children in communities facing educational exclusion, including migration-affected regions near the Venezuelan border.
According to figures shared by the foundation, the partnership has supported the enrolment of more than 42,400 children who were previously out of school, while over 26,700 at-risk students have received support aimed at helping them remain within the education system.
The second phase of the programme aims to reach an additional 42,320 out-of-school children and support the retention of more than 32,000 students considered at risk of dropping out. The initiative spans several regions, including Barranquilla, Cartagena, Medellín, Chocó, and communities affected by migration and social exclusion.
“Education is not only a right, it is a foundation for stability, resilience, and lasting peace,” Mohammed Al Kubaisi, CEO of Education Above All Foundation, said in a statement.
“In Colombia, we have seen how protecting education while expanding access and supporting continuity in learning can help children stay in school and continue building their future, even in difficult circumstances,” he added.
The award comes as Colombia continues to address challenges related to education access and protection nearly a decade after the 2016 peace agreement.
More than 250,000 children have been affected by conflict-related barriers, displacement, and risks of school dropout in recent years, highlighting the continued importance of long-term education and protection efforts across vulnerable communities.