Dubai: Philanthropic organisations say they are doing their best to help educate and better the health of women and young girls around the world while watching every penny given through selfless donors.
Heads of top humanitarian organisations told delegates at a panel discussion of Global Women’s Forum on Wednesday that progress is being made while ensuring donations are well spent for maximum return.
Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Cares, said the organisation has learned a great deal since it was formed in 2007, and within the last 18 months, is now creating its own programmes to help those in need abroad.
“We invest a lot of money, millions of dollars, into research and education,” Al Gurg told delegates. “We know how to innovate new programmes.”
Dubai Cares, for example, has been helping young girls in rural areas of Philippines continue early education. Ensuring girls become educated and empowered women helps lead a life of higher quality, he said.
Manal Omran Taryam, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Noor Foundation, said the organisation was tasked in 2008, the year of its founding, to help one million blind people.
“We manage to reach out to five million people with half of the budget,” Taryam said. “Our work is preventing blindness and treating blindness and working on prevention programs for the future.”
Hong Sheng Chiong, Founder and CIO of Opthalmic Docs, said donations to help reduce blindness is money well spent given that 80 per cent of blindness cases are preventable.
