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Dubai shows it cares for education of the poor

Thousands of concerned residents took a Walk for Education on Friday as part of Dubai Cares’ initiative aiming to raise awareness of the difficulty many schoolchildren face in developing countries.

The 3km walk along Jumeirah Beach Road represented only half the distance many schoolchildren in rural communities are forced to walk everyday in order to get to school.

“I was brought up in a small village about 30km away from Dhaka,” Hamna Bari, a retired school teacher, told Khaleej Times. “Being the only girl in a family of six children, I had to fight daily to be allowed to go to school, and even then, my brothers had to drop me by bicycle. I never gave up, and after years of struggling, I decided to go into teaching so that I can reach children who have the desire to learn. I am here on holiday, to visit my grandchildren, and when I heard of this cause, I felt like I had to show my support,” she said.

Dubai Cares also hosted post-walk entertainment at Jumeirah Beach Park with educational stalls and exhibitions, all highlighting the aim of improving children’s access to quality primary education in developing countries.

Tarek Al Gurg, CEO of Dubai Cares, sees the success of such initiatives as a sign that the UAE is ready to make a mark in the global community through their active participation and generous contributions. “Last year, Ramadan’s campaigns ‘Thirst for Education’ and the ‘Water Bucket Walk’ received contributions from over 120,000 UAE residents, and participation from over 5,000 residents,” he said. Millions of schoolchildren in 24 countries have already benefited from nutrition and educational campaigns being run by Dubai Cares.

news@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE