Dubai Cares, a UAE-based philanthropic organisation, has launched a Ramadan campaign to spread awareness of the importance of education in eradicating poverty.

The ‘End Poverty. Educate Now’ campaign also aims to raise funds for improving children’s access to quality primary education in developing countries, said a statement.

Out of the 2.2 billion children around the world, one billion live in poverty. According to Unesco, education is the best possible investment against exclusion, inequalities and poverty, and if all children in poor countries could read, global poverty would fall by 12 per cent.

Tariq Al Gurg, chief executive officer, said: “In a knowledge-based world, investment in education is key for countries to build a healthy and equitable society. As a result, the inherent potential of people can be fulfilled, leading to an increase in income levels and a reduction in educational and social disparities caused by poverty.”

“The campaign aims to garner the support of the UAE community in order to improve the lives of underprivileged children globally and help further reduce the number of out of school children which according to Unesco currently stands at 57 million.”

According to Unesco, one extra year of schooling increases an individual’s earnings by up to 10 per cent. Studies have also shown that better educated people have a greater probability of being employed and are economically more productive.

Additionally, girls’ education brings social benefits such as improved healthcare for children and greater participation of women in the labour market. Unesco states in a recent report that a child whose mother can read is 50 per cent more likely to live past age 5.

The UAE community is invited to get involved in the campaign by making donations and conducting fund raising activities, the statement said. - TradeArabia News Service