• Dubai Cares will host its “Back to School” edition of Volunteer Emirates between May 18 and 21 at Dubai World Trade Centre
• The four-day initiative is set to benefit 30,000 students in Senegal and 20,000 students in Zanzibar

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – May 13, 2019: In an effort to embrace the spirit of giving during the holy month of Ramadan and mark the Year of Tolerance, Dubai Cares, part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, will be hosting a “Back to School” edition of Volunteer Emirates between 18 and 21 May, in support of underprivileged children in Senegal and Zanzibar. The four-day initiative will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre, hall 4 and is expected to bring together a total of 2,000 volunteers from the UAE community. The volunteers will assemble 50,000 school kits that will be distributed to 30,000 students in Senegal and 20,000 students in Zanzibar ahead of the new school year.

Speaking about this very special edition of Volunteer Emirates, Tariq Al Gurg said: “We are excited to host another Back to School edition of Volunteer Emirates during the holy month of Ramadan. We kicked off this special edition a few years ago, and since it has become a staple initiative in the Ramadan calendar for a lot people. I encourage existing and new volunteers to sign up, and I have no doubt that this initiative will present a rewarding and memorable experience, as well as a unique opportunity to contribute to one of the most memorable volunteering initiatives taking place in UAE this Ramadan. I also invite all participating volunteers to join us in breaking our fast every day following the initiative.”

According to the 2018 UN Human Development Index, Senegal and Zanzibar are both ranked in the Low Human Development category, with Senegal ranked 164 and Tanzania (of which Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region) ranked 154 out of 189 countries. Both countries face continuous economic and educational challenges. In Senegal, where 54% of the population live below the poverty line, low enrolment rates in primary and secondary schools result in a low literacy rate of about 39%, as more than half the children aged 7 are out of school. In Zanzibar, poverty and other issues such as distance to school, all impede government efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children, which stands at over 340,000 children.

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