Dubai has launched a major charity drive to raise funds for primary education for needy children in poor countries around the world. Entitled ‘Dubai Cares’, the campaign was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to coincide with the Holy Month of Ramadan.
In his speech, Sheikh Mohammed described how the campaign will help over 1 million children and assist countries in achieving their United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals for providing Children’s Primary Education to every child by 2015.
The campaign recognises education as the best long-term solution to alleviate poverty in the developing world, reinforcing the call of experts that educating children, especially girls, is the key to ending the global ‘cycle of poverty’. Additionally, it is also one of the most powerful instruments for laying the basis for sustained economic growth, sound governance and effective institutions.
“Dubai Cares seeks to shine the light of knowledge and dispel the darkness of ignorance by giving the children in poor countries hope for the future and opportunities to break the cycle of poverty that threatens to entrap them and consign their families to a life with no real future,” said His Highness. “Only through education can they assume their rightful position as positive contributors in the prosperity of their communities and countries,” he said.
Global statistics significantly add to the urgency of this campaign: 120 million school-age children are not enrolled in primary education; one in every three children in developing countries does not complete five years of primary education, the minimum required for achieving basic literacy. Of the children who do not attend school, 58% – more than half – are girls. This gender gap in education is a major obstacle to alleviating poverty.
Eight years ago, the international community set the millennium development goals countries pledged to fulfil, one of which is to guarantee every child receives a basic education by the end of 2015. It is unlikely this goal will be met on time unless we take urgent action to see them through.
The campaign will additionally create the necessary conditions for students to excel and take their rightful positions as positive contributors to their societies. Specifically, the campaign sets out to build new school facilities; renovate/rehabilitate existing abandoned and/or damaged school premises; distribute school supply materials; award student scholarships; coordinate a feeding programme at schools; an annual medical check-up for students and teachers; and provide training and workshops to benefit teachers.
Events and promotions will be organised in Dubai over a 6-week period and will tap into the spirit of giving and the tradition of philanthropy deeply rooted in the Emirati community – elements that will be key to achieve the campaign’s objectives.
“The importance of education has increased tremendously in the information age, making the promotion of education and the promise of support a prerequisite for global development. Those who are deprived of education will inevitably fall behind and will never know the true essence of their religion nor learn its valuable teachings. They will always be dependent on others and face the prospect of becoming burdens on themselves, their societies and the whole world,” he stated.