Dubai Cares is hosting a 4-day volunteering initiative to pack and distribute 50,000 school kits in support of underprivileged students in Senegal and Zanzibar ahead of the school year.
As part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, The ‘Back to School’ edition of Volunteer Emirates will take place from 18 May to 21 May at Dubai World Trade Centre in Hall 4, and will benefit 30,000 students in Senegal and 20,000 students in Zanzibar.
Speaking about the very special edition of Volunteer Emirates, Tariq Al Gurg, CEO of Dubai Cares said: “We are excited to host another Back to School edition of Volunteer Emirates during the holy month of Ramadan. We kicked off this special edition a few years ago, and since it has become a staple initiative in the Ramadan calendar for a lot people. I encourage existing and new volunteers to sign up, and I have no doubt that this initiative will present a rewarding and memorable experience, as well as a unique opportunity to contribute to one of the most memorable volunteering initiatives taking place in UAE this Ramadan.”
According to the 2018 UN Human Development Index, Senegal and Zanzibar are both ranked in the Low Human Development category. Both countries face continuous economic and educational challenges. In Senegal, where 54% of the population live below the poverty line, low enrolment rates in primary and secondary schools result in a low literacy rate of about 39%, as more than half the children aged 7 are out of school. In Zanzibar, poverty and other issues such as distance to school, all impede government efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children, which stands at over 340,000 children.
For more information on Dubai Cares’ Ramadan campaign and Volunteer Emirates, visit www.dubaicares.ae