Members of the UAE community are being encouraged to take part in Dubai Cares’ annual Walk for Education, which will take place on Friday, February 17, at Dubai Creek Park next to Al Garhoud Bridge, (Gate 2). This year’s 8th edition of the Walk for Education is in support of the UAE’s “Year of Giving 2017” and will allow residents and organizations across the UAE to support a great cause as well as the vision of the UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Dubai Cares’ Walk for Education, a central pillar of Dubai Cares’ community engagement efforts, is a symbolic three kilometer walk that aims to highlight one of the challenges children face in acquiring education in developing countries where they have to walk an average of three kilometers every day in order to go to school, as well as allow members of the UAE community to demonstrate their support to Dubai Cares and contribute funds towards providing underprivileged children access to quality education.
Speaking about the initiative, Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer at Dubai Cares said, “In its eighth edition, our Walk for Education has been increasingly capturing the attention and support of people in the UAE, attracting families, groups of friends, government and academic institutions, businesses, and media. Last year, more than 10,000 people participated in the walk. This year, we are calling upon the UAE community to embrace the ‘Year of Giving’ ethos and support the Walk for Education 2017 in even greater numbers.”
A family-friendly line-up of post-event entertainment will include face-painting, balloon-twisting, hair braiding, an inflatable castle and slides, yoga, sports activities, a selfie photobooth, among other attractions and activities. Dubai Drums and the Dubai Police Band – who both have performed at previous editions of the Walk for Education – will join again this year to providing a musical backdrop during the event.
Rana Awad, Marketing Manager at Dubai Cares said, “The hugely successful and immensely inspiring Walk for Education is a platform for the community of the UAE to show that they stand by underprivileged children and support Dubai Cares’ efforts to help them overcome the many obstacles they face in accessing education. We are currently witnessing an unprecedented response to our walk, particularly in light of it being the Year of Giving. Among the first organizations to sign up for our event is Al Tayer Group with 2,000 confirmed participants.”
This year, IFFCO is the main sponsor for the Walk for Education 2017 along with an array of partners, including Arabian Radio Network, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police, Dubai Sports Council, Etisalat, Hills Advertising, ITP Media Group, JK58, Roads and Transport Authority, Vox Cinemas, as well as a team of more than 350 volunteers who will be on duty on the day of the event.
The entry fee for the Dubai Cares Walk for Education 2017 is AED 30 per person, with children under five participating for free. Participants can register online by visiting http://www.dubaicares.ae/en/walkforeducation, or on the day of the event. Walk participants are advised to arrive at Dubai Creek Park, Al Riyadh Street, Dubai, at 8am on the day of the event, with the walk starting at 9 a.m.