His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai announced the launch of Dubai Cares, a multi-million dirham campaign aimed at providing primary education to under-privileged children in the world’s poorest nations. In his visionary initiative, launched during the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan, His Highness, called upon corporations and individuals to donate funds aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty by providing schools, classrooms, books, food and medical care to one million children around the world. Through Dubai Cares, it is hoped that the UN’s Millennium Development Goal to provide universal education will become more of a reality.
GEMS Education and Welcare World Health Systems Chairman,
Sunny Varkey pledged USD 27 million [AED 100 million] over the next several years to the Dubai Cares fund, in a statement issued on September 23, 2007.
The pledged USD 27 million [AED 100 million] will cover the cost of education, medical check ups and school lunches for nearly 230,000 students over ten years; an initiative that will have signficant, long term effect on children, the communities they live in and their future development.
”This is a very important initiative, one that is aligned with GEMS Education’s ethos and principles---to provide the next generation with the skills they need to meet the challenges of the future. We have always believed, and continue to believe that education is the only real long term measure that can effectively combat poverty and we are delighted to have the opportunity to contribute. Through this remarkable initiative led by Sheikh Mohammed, we are fully aligned with this programme and lend all of our support to this initiative,” Sunny Varkey, stated. Understanding that the provision of education is a long term commitment, we felt it was important to pledge funds over the long term as a move towards a sustainable solution to poverty,” he added.
We have a long and rich tradition of supporting charitable causes over the decades; as education and healthcare providers we have a moral obligation to set standards for social responsibility, to be role models within the community.
This is not a grand gesture, but something close to our heart. Giving back to the community, is only truly meaningful when it requires substantial effort and real sacrifice on the part of the contributor. We have worked hard to fulfil this mission and to celebrate our philosophy that every child should have access to education.
Over the past fifteen years we have contributed USD 54 million [AED 200 million] privately and through our organisations in direct support and as contributions to programmes and organisations that help improve the lives of children and communities. Through GEMS Cares, more than two thousand six hundred children benefit directly from subsidised education and GEMS scholarships alone.
The Dubai Cares initiative, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will guarantee that more underprivileged children around the world will have access to education education that will have a tangible, long term impact on alleviating world poverty.
In addition to the group’s contributions, the community of GEMS Schools students, parents and teachers organise fund raising events in support of community based organisations and initiatives. These grass roots programmes organised by GEMS students generate over USD 1 million [AED 3.7 million] annually.
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