DUBAI

If the majority of the children in developing countries could at least read, global poverty would fall by 12 per cent – that is the power of primary education,” says Tariq Al Gurg, CEO of Dubai Cares, which is playing a huge role in promoting education in many countries.

Around the world, there are 57 million children of primary school age who do not have the opportunity to attend school, according to figures furnished by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

Recognising the need to empower this silent revolution in impoverished communities and reinvigorate the cause of education around the world, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon launched the ‘Global Education First Initiative’ in September 
2012 during the 67th session of the UN General Assembly, which aims to enrol every child in school, improve the quality of learning and foster global citizenship.

Education for all

The global focus on education comes at a time when the world faces enormous challenges in this field. Countries and organisations are working tirelessly to fulfil the UN Millennium Development Goal 2 of ensuring that children everywhere will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling by 2015.

Dubai Cares, a leading UAE-based philanthropic organisation, has thrown its weight behind the UN to play an important role in the field of education.

It remains committed to the Education First initiative and continues to work for not just education but also gender equality by focusing on education of girls in developing countries.

Talking to Gulf News about the perspective of Dubai Cares, the CEO of the organisation, Tariq Al Gurg, said: “Now in its sixth year, Dubai Cares has become an internationally recognised philanthropic organisation focused on delivering integrated, evidence-based primary education programmes through strategic partnerships to create an impact in the lives of underprivileged children globally.

“We take pride in the fact that we are currently reaching more than eight million children in 31 developing countries. We look forward to making a difference in the lives of millions of disadvantaged children through quality education, opening doors to new opportunities that provide them with a brighter future.”

Education a tool to combat poverty and exclusion

“Today, Dubai Cares is a global organisation contributing to setting the post-2015 Development Agenda. As a major player in global efforts to ensure all children go to school and learn, Dubai Cares is committed to the design of sustainable and scalable programs to guarantee short- and long-term impact.

“We believe that education is the best possible investment against exclusion, inequalities and poverty.”

Gender equality is a cross-cutting theme in all of Dubai Cares’ education programmes, with an approach that aims to secure equal access for boys and girls to safe learning environments with adequate facilities, materials and academic support from qualified teachers and engaged communities.

Recent statistics show that a child whose mother can read is 50 per cent more likely to live past the age of five, and that one in five girls of lower secondary school age is out of school. Other statistics have also revealed that one in every three girls in the developing world is married by the age of 18.

Removing barriers to girls’ education, such as early and forced marriage, domestic slavery, sex trafficking, gender violence and discrimination, lack of access to health care and school fees means not only a better life for girls, but also a safer, healthier and more prosperous world for all.

Educational therapy in war zones

An interesting case in point is Dubai Care’s work in Palestine. In Gaza, Dubai Cares works closely with Anera (American Near East Refugee Aid), a non-governmental organisation that works closely with refugees. Dubai Cares has been helping improve the quality of primary education in the region by collaborating on a programme called ‘Right Start’ with Anera.

Right Start brings therapeutic relief to children through art, drama and other creative disciplines that channel their energy and give them an outlet for expression.

“Children are the most impacted by war and displacement, and the opportunities they lose as a consequence are unacceptable,” says Al Gurg.

“Right Start is a ground-breaking programme for early childhood education strategy and it resonated with us as it is focused, result-driven and promotes a stimulating learning environment by incorporating creative elements, such as art, drama and play amongst children who have been subjected to the rigours and tensions surrounding a conflict.

“It focuses on investing in improving preschools, training teachers, producing resources and addressing wider educational issues in Gaza and the West Bank, including [Occupied] East Jerusalem.”

A programme dedicated to girls

Growing up in West Bank and Gaza can be difficult – volatile, densely populated and under-developed. These areas offer children limited options to harness and channel their creative and intellectual energies.

Although most of the schools in the territory are run by the UN, there still isn’t enough to cope with the growing population. Moreover, the state and quality of these schools are severely lacking, with issues such as poor construction, unsafe surroundings and inadequate resources.

In the current situation, girls are finding the path to schooling, education and autonomy a rougher path to tread than boys. For many parents desperate to provide their girls with a fighting chance in an increasingly knowledge-based global economy, the choices are few and far between.

It is in areas like these that organisations such as Dubai Cares have made a big difference by promoting literacy and creativity amongs girls by teaching them reading and writing skills, as well as removing social and economic obstacles that prevent them from attending school.

One such measure is the ‘Hayya Naqra’ programme (meaning ‘Let’s Read’), which encourages parents to read to their children at home.

The programme, funded by Dubai Cares and operated by Anera, has made huge improvements in the issue of promoting literacy in the West Bank and Gaza by giving young girls the tools to nurture their creativity.

Hayya Naqra was first launched in Gaza and subsequently rolled out in the West Bank.