Dubai Cares plans more big steps towards children’s education

 

Three kilometres. Just under two miles. The distance the average child in the developing world has to walk every day just to get to school.

That daily slog is symbolic of the many hardships millions of youngsters face when it comes to their education.

On February 7, thousands of people will march in those children's footsteps as they take part in Dubai Cares' Walk for Education 2014 in Jumeirah. They will walk the 3km to raise funds to support this year's campaigns.

Dubai Cares, a key partner of A World at School, will be launching new programmes in various parts of the world after its most successful year in 2013.

The charity works to improve children's access to quality primary education in developing countries. It reached out to more than 1.2million children last year through its programmes in about 30 countries.

Dubai Cares chief executive Tariq Al Gurg told The National newspaper: “We are part of the global debate when it comes to the global agenda on education.”

He said one new focus for the charity this year was school health and nutrition. This means pulling together three strands which previously had been separate – water sanitation and hygiene, feeding and deworming programmes.

Mr Al Gurg added: “We are going to champion it locally and we are already in talks with big global players. We are creating a model and framework how this can be done globally and how it can become part of the international debate.”

On the role of Dubai Cares in encouraging the local community to give, he said: “In line with our government’s directive to encourage philanthropy, Walk for Education is one of our local initiatives that offers volunteers, corporations and individuals as well as donors the opportunity to contribute.”

You can read more about the Walk for Education and the mission and work of Dubai Cares here.