Digitale toespraak van Koningin Máxima ter gelegenheid van de uitreiking van de tienduizendste studiebeurs ontwikkelingsorganisatie SPARK.

Toespraak | 21-06-2021

Dear Kubar,  

You have already been through quite a lot in your young life. The same goes for many Syrians of your age group. 

I admire the courage with which you and so many other refugees have found to carry on. 

You deserve the chance to develop your talents as students. 

This is vital, because the knowledge, creativity and entrepreneurship of young people are fundamental for a better future. 

For you personally, but certainly also for the community in which you live, now and in the future.

That’s why I’m so pleased with the initiative SPARK has taken to invest in scholarships for refugees. 

It’s wonderful that this program is being so widely supported! 

Thanks to all those who collaborated, it has been possible to award 10,000 scholarships. 

Kubar many went before you. But you most certainly won’t be the last! You symbolize all these young people who have received a scholarship.

In all my work I see what development actually means to people.

• First of all: self-confidence.
• Resilience and spirit.
• But also: being able to set up networks.
• And not least: the possibility to help and inspire others.

Education and entrepreneurship are essential for rebuilding every region affected by conflict and for establishing the possibility for growth in every country.
Each scholarship awarded to a young refugee not only helps that particular person, but eventually a whole community of people and ultimately all of us. 
It’s an investment in the future with a fantastic yield!
Kubar [Koewár], many congratulations on receiving your scholarship. And to SPARK: congratulations on achieving this wonderful result, together with all the partnering organizations, who we will hear from later in this program. 
I look forward to hearing more about your experiences, Kubar [Koewár] and those of your fellow students!

Thank you