Dubai Cares runs children’s literacy programme in Lanka

DUBAI: A delegation from Dubai Cares, part of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, recently visited Sri Lanka to launch a new programme, in partnership with Save the Children.

The programme aims to improve children’s literacy levels in the Northern and Southern Provinces of Sri Lanka, where there is a critical need to improve the quality of education. Driven by the success of the first programme, Dubai Cares has renewed its partnership with Save the Children in Sri Lanka towards a new Literacy Boost programme titled “Improving Children’s Literacy in Sri Lanka”.

The Dhs3,673,500 ($1 million) programme aims to improve the literacy skills of over 30,000 children in two districts of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka: Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu; and two districts of the Southern Province: Galle and Matara. It is also expected to indirectly benefit 7,500 children, 1,000 teachers and 13,900 parents through teacher training and community-based activities. The project is articulated around Literacy Boost’s three main pillars: assessing students’ current literacy levels; building the capacity of teachers, school administrators and government in supporting children’s literacy skills; and working with the community to promote reading awareness and strong language development.

 Commenting on the importance of the new programme, Abdulla Ahmed Al Shehhi, Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Cares, said, “The return on investment in education is immeasurable. It is the greatest long-term investment and all children have an inalienable right to have access to quality education from the earliest age. We are encouraged by the success of our first programme in Sri Lanka, which demonstrated the high impact of Literacy Boost within the country’s education system. By building up on the success of the first programme, we are helping to tackle the education gaps through expanding our reach to more districts throughout the country, as well as supporting the Ministry of Education to phase-in Literacy Boost in every primary school in Sri Lanka.” Dana Jawad Amr, Programmes Officer at Dubai Cares, said, “We are delighted to continue and scale up our efforts to promote literacy in Sri Lanka. From student assessments to capacity-building for teachers and administrators, we are proud to support the creation of skills-based curricula that can embed literacy components and be used by teachers effectively in their pedagogy. Our work with Save the Children has had a powerful impact in children’s learning and through our programmes we are advancing our cooperation with the Sri Lankan government.”

As part of the agenda, Dubai Cares’ delegation met with Ahmed Ali AlMualla, UAE Ambassador to Sri Lanka, who hailed Dubai Cares for its active role in supporting education in Sri Lanka. He also shed light on the relief, health and educational initiatives that the embassy is implementing in Sri Lanka.

AlMualla said, “I am happy and grateful to Dubai Cares for taking the initiative to conduct a much needed and worthy project, aimed at uplifting the standards of education and wellbeing of the tens of thousands of children in underdeveloped districts of Sri Lanka. Dubai Cares has been conducting various initiatives, such as “Back to School” and “Million Book Challenge”, as well as “Children’s Literacy” and “Teachers Training” programmes among others, which have immensely benefited the underprivileged people around the world. The contributions made by Dubai Cares, provides children and young people in developing countries with access to quality education, regardless of their gender, nationality, race or religion. I welcome the delegation from UAE visiting Sri Lanka, and wish them every success.” Dubai Cares’ delegation also met with Vijayakala Maheswaran, State Minister of Education, Tissa Hewavithana, Secretary to the Ministry of Education in Sri Lanka, and Save the Children’s in-country and global teams including Helen l’Anson, Country Director. The delegation then left for Galle in the Southern Province, one of the four districts targeted by the programme, for three successive programme site visits and meetings. The delegation then concluded the trip with the programme’s launch event in the presence of Chandima Rasaputtara, Provincial Minister of Education, Southern Province.

Helen I’Anson, Country Director, Save the Children, said, “Our education programme is focusing on quality and relevance of education and access for marginalised children.”

WAM