HH Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed visits schools in Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of Dubai Cares campaign

During his recent visit to the Balkan nation as part of the 'Dubai Cares' initiative, HH Sheikh Maktoum toured Kiseljak 1-Bilalovac and Brestovsko primary schools in Bilalovac; Aleksa Santic School in Vojkovici, East Sarajevo, and Dzemaludin Causevic School in Novi Grad, Sarajevo.

Senior Bosnian officials briefed his HH Sheikh Maktoum on the precarious status of more than 700,000 children up to 12 years, following a 43-month civil war that left 250,000 people dead and half the population fleeing their homes and another 1.3 million internally displaced.

HH Sheikh Maktoum said: "The scars of the civil war are still fresh in the memory of these children, influencing their perceptions of one another. Education helps in healing those scars, and the school is the right place for these children to make a new beginning.

"The post-war context in Bosnia-Herzegovina requires an education system based on the principles of tolerance and peace. Through Dubai Cares, we will impact a meaningful difference in the lives of these children and help them break free from the repercussions of the war."

Since the end of the civil war, Bosnia has made rapid strides, specifically in school enrollment. The country has a 98.4 per cent net primary school attendance rate and a 79.3 per cent net secondary school attendance. The progress, however, will be short-lived if a number of social issues are not addressed on an urgent basis. With a high number of Bosnians living below the poverty line, more children are forced to forego education to enter the workforce. Also, high risk in terms of increases in diseases, substance abuse, and violence further hinder the overall development of the society.

HH Sheikh Maktoum added: "My trip to Bosnia reinforces my belief that an education rooted in human rights and personal dignity can alone bring its people together. Dubai Cares can help provide this nation and its children the resources to overcome the current challenges of poverty and crime through education. This will motivate them to look forward to a bright and peaceful future."

Dubai Cares was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to help educate one million children in poor countries. HH Sheikh Mohammed has tasked his children with the responsibility to drive the campaign at home and represent Dubai in the recipient countries.