Dubai Cares, a UAE-based philanthropic establishment, has launched a campaign to raise funds to support a programme that empowers girls in developing countries by addressing gender imbalances in primary education.

Running throughout Ramadan, Girls’ Education Campaign 2011 underlines the importance of providing girls with access to quality primary education.

Last year, Dubai Cares launched its School Feeding Campaign which raised funds that are currently supporting school feeding programs for undernourished primary school aged children in the Gaza Strip and Bangladesh, benefiting 80,000 and 88,000 children, respectively.

“With the launch of Dubai Cares in 2007, Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the importance of providing children in developing countries with access to quality primary education. This campaign aims to address some of the gaps that prevent girls from going to school, which we have identified through our monitoring, evaluation and learning process,” said Tariq Al Gurg, chief executive officer of Dubai Cares.

“Almost 42 million girls globally do not go to school and are missing out on an opportunity to improve their lives. Studies have shown that girls who receive an education are able to pass on their education to their own children and eventually the community at large; have a better chance of obtaining an income; can better access and understand the required daily nutrition needs and sanitation; and, are better equipped to prevent illnesses and fight abuse, allowing them to truly play a transformative role in society.”

“Our Ramadan campaign aims to raise awareness of the plight of girls in developing countries and to mobilize the UAE community to help change their lives by donating towards Dubai Cares programs that focus on girls’ education,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service