(April 16, 2008) - Save the Children today received a major grant from Dubai Cares, the largest foundation in the world devoted to improving primary education in developing countries.

Through the Dubai Cares partnership, announced today in the United Arab Emirates, Save the Children will receive $16.6 million to provide quality primary education across Sudan, focusing on the regions of Abyei, Blue Nile, Darfur, Khartoum, North Kordofan, Red Sea, South Kordofan and Upper Nile.

The five-year program will provide direct support for 115,000 children in 200 schools and 50 early childhood development centers. 

Save the Children UK and Save the Children Sweden will work with Save the Children US in implementing the programs in 200 communities across the country. 

In addition, with support from Dubai Cares, Save the Children will train 500 teachers to introduce basic literacy skills to children at an early age.

"Dubai Cares has taken a groundbreaking step today for basic education in Sudan," said Charles F. MacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children, based in Westport, CT.

"Direct aid for basic education in Sudan has been severely underfunded. Dubai Cares' total commitment to the children of Sudan - which is more than three times all international direct aid for basic education to Sudan in 2005 - will help educate a generation of children who might have otherwise missed out on school."

According to Dubai Cares, partners for this program were selected based on their track record in providing for children in need around the world, as well as their access to adequate resources and infrastructure to make an immediate impact on the ground.

"Save the Children is one of our major partners in Sudan and was selected based on its 20-plus years of experience in the country," said Her Excellency Reem Al-Hashimy, chairperson of the Dubai Cares board of directors. "Our partnership with Save the Children is an example of how Dubai Cares ensures the maximum impact of its philanthropic efforts.  Partnership agreements are negotiated to ensure minimal expenditure on overhead, which increases the direct impact, thus maximizing the number of children who can access quality primary education."

Save the Children has one of the largest humanitarian programs currently operating in Sudan. The agency, which has worked in the country since 1985, also provides long-term, community-based education and health care programs benefitting some of the country's poorest children.

Dubai Cares was launched last September by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who believes that education is the best long-term solution to combat poverty and that educating children, especially girls, is a key component to fighting the global cycle of poverty.  It represents Dubai's contribution to the U.N. Millennium Development Goals for 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.

The foundation has raised nearly $1 billion from individuals and businesses in Dubai and will make initial grants in countries with the highest level of need and where implementing agencies can deliver the maximum benefit for children: Bangladesh, Bosnia, Chad, Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Maldives, Mauritania, Niger, Pakistan, the Palestinian Territories, Sudan,  Yemen, and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan. 

Dubai Cares today also announced funding for UNICEF to implement a two-year program in Sudan, including the construction of schools in rural areas, training workshops for teachers and the provision of textbooks and school supplies.

 

For more information see our Rewrite the Future Programme