GFH Financial Group B.S.C. announced its partnership with the "Smile" initiative to support children with cancer in Bahrain through providing electronic devices that assist sick children to follow up their educational achievements in the expected school year and the application of online education methodologies. This is due to the inability of these children to attend school, especially those who undergo chemotherapy, as this hugely affects their level of immunity and presents the option to study remotely as the sole option. Salah Sharif, GFH group chief administrative officer, said that this support for children with cancer in Bahrain comes within the framework of the Group social responsibility, and reflects the devoted care it displays towards these young cancer patients who are striving to win their battle with this disease. "Deciding to support the education of these young heroes coincides with the group's trend towards investing in education through its ownership of a group of schools that cover the three educational levels in the Middle East, and its recent launch of the Britus educational platform. The group will ensure continuity of communication with the Smile initiative to evaluate the experience and provide all necessary support for its success," Sharif added. The Chairman of Future Society for Youth, Sabah Abdul Rahman Al Zayani, to which the Smile initiative is affiliated, expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to GFH Financial Group represented by Salah Sharif, for supporting children with cancer patients affiliated with the initiative. He emphasized that this generous support by the group would undoubtedly have a significant impact on securing the continuity of education for the heroes of a smile, which has profound repercussions in improving the psychological state of these children and supporting their morale to overcome cancer and cure it, God willing. "In the Smile Initiative, we are currently conducting a comprehensive study of the needs of sick children for electronic devices, such as laptops and tablets, as it is expected that these devices will be distributed to about 65 children from all educational levels who are not financially able to obtain them," Al Zayani said. It is noteworthy that the Smile initiative implements a set of programs for the benefit of children with cancer and their parents, including the Abjad educational program, which aims to maintain the education of children with cancer whose health conditions prevent them from attending school for long periods, as a group of volunteer teachers teaches children at the initiative's headquarters or through home visits. Amidst the repercussions of the (COVID-19) pandemic, the initiative confronted various challenges to maintain its commitment to this program, but it provided alternatives that include providing lessons through remote visual communication apps. — SG
