Khaleej Times

Dubai Cares programme to benefit 15k Colombian kids

- Staff Reporter

dubai — Around 15,000 children in Colombia are expected to benefit from the education programme launched recently by Dubai Cares, part of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiative­s.

The Dubai Cares programme, in partnershi­p with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), is aimed at addressing four major challenges: The increasing number of out-of-school children and youth, low transition rates from primary to secondary schools, highly-dispersed rural areas, and poor education quality.

Dubai Cares has allocated Dh11 million for the programme titled ‘Protecting Conflict-Affected Children and Youth Through Education in Northeast Colombia’.

An estimated 15,000 children and young people and 200 teachers will directly benefit from the threeyear programme that targets vulnerable girls, boys and youth affected by the armed conflict in Colombia.

The programme will engage outof-school children and youth through non-formal education (through a bridging programme and through flexible education models) and will provide technical support to the secretaria­t of education and schools to ensure educationa­l services for the out-of-school children and youth.

The programme will span over 10 municipali­ties in Norte de Santander department and in the Arauca department.

A statement from Dubai Cares said: “Both the department­s have been riven by armed conflict for many years, due to their strategic position on the Venezuelan border and the presence of guerilla and paramilita­ry organisati­ons, who have fought for control over illicit crops, weapons, contraband and land. Much of the two department­s’ population lives in poverty, and children and young people attending school are exposed to risks.”

Annina Mattsson, programmes director at Dubai Cares, said: “We at Dubai Cares are continuous­ly researchin­g and identifyin­g new interventi­ons, particular­ly in countries affected by conflict, disasters and epidemics, where we can support by addressing gaps and local government­s have limited resources or incapacity to provide services.”

“This programme, which falls under our Education in Emergencie­s strategy, intends to be a driver of lasting institutio­nal, structural and pedagogica­l change and improvemen­t in the education framework of Norte de Santander and Arauca department­s.”

reporters@khaleejtim­es.com

 ?? Supplied photo ?? The Dubai Cares programme will engage out-of-school children and youth through non-formal education. —
Supplied photo The Dubai Cares programme will engage out-of-school children and youth through non-formal education. —

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