The move is seen as part of Ukraine's efforts to reinforce its army as soldiers struggle to hold positions against Russia
Using its vast resource of teachers, students and parents, the Varkey GEMS foundation will impact the lives of millions of underprivileged children around the world.
Speaking at the launch, Bill Clinton said, “A quality education is key to solving our most pressing global challenges. The benefits from an educated child will affect not only the child itself, but his or her family and the wider community. “
“Even in the poorest countries, one good year of education can add 10 per cent a year in earning capacity for life and help to build future of nations which are less fortunate,” added Clinton.
He added, “The education gap is in some ways the most important of the inequality problems in the world today and clearly it cannot be filled by international agencies or bilateral foreign aid. If it could be, it would have already been done.”
The new initiative will create scholarships for underprivileged students and partner in the development of schools. Focusing on three key areas of scholarships, leadership and teacher training, the initiative will aim to impact hundred underprivileged children for every child enrolled at a GEMS school
Bill Clinton lauded the Varkey family for their philanthropic endeavours as he highlighted the need for greater cooperation among countries to promote sustainable development.
“We live in a world where ironically the volume of knowledge is growing exponentially. But even today, there are so many children who never have access to good education,” added Bill Clinton.
The foundation will involve 100,000 students from 125 nationalities along with 9,000 staff and hundreds of thousands of parents from its GEMS schools.
“I believe that education is the most important issue in the world today. The fact that there are 70 million school age children worldwide who have never attended school is intolerable,” expressed Sunny Varkey, Chairman of GEMS education.
“For us to confront, collectively, all the conflict, the prejudice, poverty, intolerance and unprecedented environmental challenges, we need to improve both the quality and access to education worldwide,” added Varkey.
GEMS Education already works in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative, the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, Dubai Cares and Pratham.
“It is the collective achievement of giving that we celebrate today and it is this streak of generosity that the GEMS group wants to celebrate,” says Vikas Pota, CEO, Varkey GEMS Foundation.
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