Students on a break from classes play in a school yard in Baba Amer, Homs City, Syria.

National Arab American Medical Association

With NAAMA support, UNICEF is reaching hundreds of thousands of out-of-school children in Syria, helping them catch up and continue with their formal education. 

NAAMA Logo

Partner since 2016

The National Arab American Medical Association (NAAMA), founded in 1975, is the largest, all-inclusive international organization of Arab American physicians and medical students based in the United States. Through educational and philanthropic activities, NAAMA’s mission is to promote the professional development and cultural identity of healthcare professionals with roots in or affinity to the Arab World.

Raising awareness and funds for the protection and empowerment of the most vulnerable children in the MENA region

UNICEF USA and NAAMA partnered to raise $100,000 towards UNICEF’s Self-Learning Program and other programs in the MENA region. The Self-Learning program has helped hundreds of thousands of out-of-school children catch up and continue with their formal education. 

NAAMA has worked with the Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP) since 2016 to raise funds for UNICEF’s programs in Syria through the NAAMA NextGen annual piano concert fundraiser, Keys for Syrian Kids. The January 2021 fundraising concert raised $64,000 for UNICEF's Educate a Child program.

In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, NAAMA partnered with UNICEF USA to host a series of informational webinars about the pandemic's impacts on children. NAAMA NextGen also launched a Students for Yemen campaign, which raised over $20,000 for UNICEF's COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts for Yemeni youth.

Learn more about how UNICEF and civil society groups work together to create better futures for children.

14 children smiling and playing outside in a sunny enclosed area.
10 Years of the Syrian Conflict: Challenges & Success for Education
TOP PHOTO: Students on a break from classes play in a school yard in Baba Amer, Homs City, Syria. © UNICEF/UN0740044/Nader