Dubai Cares, the UAE-based philanthropic organization working to tackle poverty through education in developing countries, today announced that the fifth edition of Walk for Education is set to take place on Friday, 7 February 2014 at the Jumeirah Beach Park, Jumeirah Beach Road.
Walk for Education is an annual event which symbolizes the solidarity of the UAE community with children in developing countries who walk an average of three kilometers every day to attend school. The event falls under one of Dubai Cares’ key pillars - local community engagement –as it draws widespread support from all sectors of the UAE community including the public and private sectors, academic community and media.
Speaking on the relevance of the event, Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Cares said: “Our leaders have recognized education as a critical factor to our national growth and development. They are constantly working to advance the standards of our educational system to meet the future requirements of our children, so that they can build a more prosperous future, both for themselves and the nation. On the other hand, in some developing countries, the chronic deficiencies in infrastructure and the schooling system make it extremely difficult or even impossible for primary age children to go to school. Walk for Education is a call to action for us as a community. It highlights not only the long distances that children travel every day to go to school, but also the hardships that they have to face.”
Commenting on the role of Dubai Cares in inculcating the spirit of philanthropy in the local community, Al Gurg added: “In line with our government’s directive to encourage philanthropy, Walk for Education is one of our local initiatives that offers volunteers, corporations and individuals as well as donors the opportunity to contribute.
In his concluding remarks, Al Gurg said: “We are grateful to Chevron for their continued support of Walk for Education for the second consecutive year. Through Walk for Education, we want to highlight the importance of a safe, secure and easily accessible learning environment in promoting education amongst children. By walking in these children’s shoes, we hope to not just generate awareness about the situation, but also inspire people to donate their time and efforts as well as encourage future generations to remove these hurdles that prevent children from going to school and learning.”
Christopher Bradley, Country Chairman, Chevron UAE said: “Chevron is once again delighted to support the Dubai Cares Walk for Education and to walk alongside thousands who now contribute to this special event. We have been partnering with governments and communities in the Middle East for more than 80 years through our Caltex® and Chevron® brands. Wherever Chevron does business across the world we involve ourselves in community events. The Walk for Education is a very special initiative with so many excellent outcomes which extend across continents. As major suppliers of energy in this region, Chevron is pleased to add our human energy to this wonderful event and the causes it addresses.”
On-site registration will commence at 8 am with the Walk scheduled for 9 am. Post-walk celebrations will be hosted by popular local radio personality Kris Fade, and will include activities for Walk’s participants of all ages. A face-painting booth, games arcade, photo booth for photo souvenirs as well as performances by acrobats and the Dubai Police Band are part of the entertainment line-up.
The entry fee for Walk for Education is AED 30 only. UAE residents and corporations can register on-site on the day.
Walk for Education Details for Listings:
- Date: Friday, 7 February 2014
- Time: On-site Registration: 8 am to 9 am; Walk: 9 am onwards
- Venue: Jumeirah Beach Park, Jumeirah Beach Road
- Entry Fee: AED 30 Only