Dubai Cares programme to benefit 15k Colombian kids

Dubai - Dubai Cares has allocated Dh11 million for the programme titled 'Protecting Conflict-Affected Children and Youth Through Education in Northeast Colombia'.

Around 15,000 children in Colombia are expected to benefit from the education programme launched recently by Dubai Cares, part of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives.
The Dubai Cares programme, in partnership with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), is aimed at addressing four major challenges: The increasing number of out-of-school children and youth, low transition rates from primary to secondary schools, highly-dispersed rural areas, and poor education quality.
Dubai Cares has allocated Dh11 million for the programme titled 'Protecting Conflict-Affected Children and Youth Through Education in Northeast Colombia'.
An estimated 15,000 children and young people and 200 teachers will directly benefit from the three-year programme that targets vulnerable girls, boys and youth affected by the armed conflict in Colombia.
The programme will engage out-of-school children and youth through non-formal education (through a bridging programme and through flexible education models) and will provide technical support to the secretariat of education and schools to ensure educational services for the out-of-school children and youth. 
The programme will span over 10 municipalities in Norte de Santander department and in the Arauca department.
A statement from Dubai Cares said: "Both the departments have been riven by armed conflict for many years, due to their strategic position on the Venezuelan border and the presence of guerilla and paramilitary organisations, who have fought for control over illicit crops, weapons, contraband and land. Much of the two departments' population lives in poverty, and children and young people attending school are exposed to risks." 
Annina Mattsson, programmes director at Dubai Cares, said: "We at Dubai Cares are continuously researching and identifying new interventions, particularly in countries affected by conflict, disasters and epidemics, where we can support by addressing gaps and local governments have limited resources or incapacity to provide services."
"This programme, which falls under our Education in Emergencies strategy, intends to be a driver of lasting institutional, structural and pedagogical change and improvement in the education framework of Norte de Santander and Arauca departments."
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
 

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