DUBAI // Dubai Cares has pledged to continue to look out for marginalised children and ensure that the young in countries torn by conflict and epidemics receive education.
At a function to celebrate the organisation’s 10th anniversary, Dubai Cares founder Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, urged it to continue towards a goal of high-quality education that would improve communities in the developing world.
“The children to whom we have provided primary education are now in need of completing their education and we are committed to addressing their needs, with a focus on quality of education to transform communities,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
The organisation thanked government organisations, the private sector and individuals who have contributed to its initiatives.
In addition to its support of primary education, Dubai Cares will now address the causes behind the large number of school dropouts globally. It will increase funding for interventions in areas where governments are unable to provide services with Education in Emergencies programmes.
Tariq Al Gurg, chief executive of Dubai Cares, said the organisation had listened to Sheikh Mohammed’s advice.
“As a result, we are helping safeguard the right to education for children living in areas affected by conflict, natural disasters or epidemics,” he said.
“We are acting fast to ensure that children’s education is not interrupted, resulting in generations missing out on the education they need. In this spirit, we officially announced last October the allocation of $20million for Education in Emergencies to ensure that children affected by crisis are provided the opportunity to learn and cope during and after a crisis.”
Programmes have been announced in Lebanon, Niger, Sierra Leone and Nepal, and other initiatives are to be announced within months.
From its initial goal of helping one million children, Dubai Cares has reached 16 million children in 45 developing countries.
The organisation’s approach has provided bathroom facilities for girls, clean drinking water and a focus on nutrition and health that has increased enrolment and reduced dropout rates in schools.
The ceremony – which was also attended by Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation – began with a video of the National Anthem rendered by an orchestra of young students from Sinfonía por el Peru, (Symphony for Peru), a Dubai Cares-funded initiative that uses music to promote social change among children from low-income families.
Sheikh Mohammed also signed a plaque on a cylindrical-shaped memorial with the names of the donors illuminated to commemorate the decade’s work.
It was also a proud moment for students acknowledged for their contributions.
“We want other children to have a bright future, so we give what we can. We give from our hearts. We want everyone to get a good education to make this a better world,” said Marc Leo, 11, from Kindergarten Starters.
Marc, along with Mahek Mohammed, Janell Monteiro and Sian Shinjo, Grade 4 and 5 pupils at the school, received a certificate from Sheikh Mohammed.
The school has raised money, donated blankets and food for many Dubai Cares programmes.
Principal Asha Alexander said the children were learning from the example of the country’s Rulers.
“The UAE is a rich country and will continue to be rich because it gives so much to the world. We want to inculcate the spirit of generosity in children so philanthropy is a way of life,” she said.
rtalwar@thenational.ae
