Dubai Cares partners with CARE International to support primary education programmes in Yemen

In alliance with CARE International, Dubai Cares will develop and implement primary education programmes in Yemen, which remains one of the most underdeveloped countries in the Middle East.

With its current portfolio of education initiatives, Dubai Cares has become the world's largest charitable establishment, solely devoted to improving primary education for underprivileged children.

The joint Dubai Cares-CARE International primary education programmes, to be rolled out over four years in Yemen, will increase the quality and relevance of education to 36,000 primary age children in the rural governorate of Hajja, with special emphasis placed on providing girls with access to education.

The programme will also ensure the construction of nearly 100 primary schools in the underserved areas, with six classrooms each.

Dubai Cares goal is to deliver education programmes covering the entire value chain of education and will include action-learning and life-skills training with partners based in the targeted countries.

Under the Yemen programme, over 200 women will be trained as primary teaching assistants, while in addition, 200 primary teachers will be familiarised with child-centred techniques for supporting slow learners and late starters.

Also there is a water component to the Yemen education programme that provides piped water to the schools without existing convenient water sources.

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Chairperson of the Dubai Cares Board of Directors, said: "CARE International was selected for its 15-year track record in Yemen and we are confident our partnership for Yemen will yield anticipated results within the determined time-line for the benefit of the community at large."

Her Excellency added: "The impact of our intervention is long-term, and will be felt long after the initial phase of our programme is complete. By building 100 schools in the first four years, Dubai Cares' effort in Yemen will translate into tangible results for an additional 4,000 children per year, over and above the 36000 children provided with places within the 4 year life of the project itself - results measured in terms of the children's access to primary education in the country."

Dubai Cares selects its partners based on their profile of providing for the underprivileged children around the world, and their access to adequate resources and infrastructure that can make an immediate on the ground impact.

Dubai Cares has prioritized Phase One grants to countries that have the highest level of needs and can deliver maximum benefits to its children.

Last month, Dubai Cares announced 12 beneficiary countries under Phase One, including Bangladesh, Bosnia, Chad, Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Maldives, Mauritania, Niger, Pakistan, Occupied Palestinian territories, Sudan, and Yemen; and Palestinian refugees (in Lebanon and Jordan).

"The latest UN Development Report for Yemen (2005-6) confirms that less than 17 per cent of all adult Yemenis have completed their primary education. Access to education is also inequitable, with girls making up only one-third of primary school enrolments and only one in four girls going on to attend secondary school," said Her Excellency Al Hashimy.

She added: "Without a doubt, Yemen's education system ranks as among the most challenged in the world. Recognising this gap, Dubai Cares hopes to impact the lives of the country's children positively and constructively."

Robert Glasser, CARE International Secretary General said: "CARE International is honoured and delighted to be selected by Dubai Cares to be a global partner in this exciting and vital initiative which will enable many thousands of poor and marginalised children to attend primary school."

Gareth Richards, country director of CARE International in Yemen added: "With this significant investment by Dubai Cares, we will work closely with the Ministry of Education and its international NBEDS partners in Yemen to bring a major contribution to existing efforts towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal for primary education. All Yemeni children have a right to access primary education; this programme will also help them achieve their dreams."

Launched on 19 September, 2007, Dubai Cares campaign is Dubai's contribution to the UN Millennium Development Goals of providing primary education to every child by 2015.

The initiative validates the emirate's commitment to play an effective role in securing a better tomorrow for future generations.

CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. Last year, CARE programs improved the lives of more than 45 million people in 66 countries.

Recognizing that women suffer disproportionately from poverty, CARE places special emphasis on working with women to create permanent social change.

CARE also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and helps people rebuild their lives.