Dubai's women delegation in Senegal to set up a school for girls

Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative delegation departs to Senegal to implement educational program.-Supplied photo

Advocating for girls education, a delegation from the Dubai Women Establishment and Dubai Ladies Club, along with a few high-end Emirati designers are visiting Senegal to lay the foundation stone of an elementary school as part of their 'teacHER' campaign to provide quality education for girls. The delegation will not only lay the school's foundation stone but will also be actively involved in the first practical steps of its set up and will also participate in a number of local educational and cultural activities and events.
The project, in line with the Year of Zayed, will be implemented in collaboration with Dubai Cares, part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, and is among the ongoing humanitarian efforts of Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative, which was established in 2013 by Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, president of the UAE Gender Balance Council, president of Dubai Women Establishment (DWE), president of Dubai Ladies Club and wife of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and UAE Minister of Presidential Affairs.
The educational programme in Senegal is the first of a series of programmes to be implemented in developing countries as part of the 'teacHER' campaign, which was launched by Al Manal Humanitarian Initiative in 2017 to advocate for girls' education.
The programme is primarily supported by 'Designs of Hope', an annual charitable exhibition organised by Dubai Ladies Club in which pre-loved luxury gowns and high-end clothing items by Emirati designers are sold to raise money for charity. All proceeds from the exhibition in 2017 and 2018 were dedicated towards supporting educational programmes in Egypt, Nepal, Senegal, Ethiopia, and Uganda.
Headed by Lamia Abdulaziz Khan, director of the Dubai Ladies Club, the delegation is visiting Senegal from November 18 to 23 for the official inauguration of the school that will be built in the western region, Thiès.
Highlighting the importance of empowering girls across the globe with education, Sheikha Manal stated: "We understand that there are social and economic factors in many developing countries that prevent children - particularly girls - from receiving the education they need, negatively impacting their future. Consequently, this affects their societies as a whole, as it hinders overall development processes and economic growth. This initiative aims to make a difference in the lives of girls and contribute towards their happiness as productive, effective and successful members of society."
Lamia Khan highlighted the importance of education as a valuable tool that equips young girls with the necessary knowledge and skills required to participate as equal partners in the development of the vocational, cultural and economic spheres of society. She said: "In line with the Club's commitment to the values of unconditional generosity and giving, we aim to become a global platform for female empowerment." Lamia Khan highlighted that the Club has been organising the annual exhibition since 2013 to support various humanitarian causes, the latest of which is the 'teacHER' campaign. The educational programme in Senegal will be implemented in collaboration with the philanthropic organization Dubai Cares and its partner, buildOn.
saman@khaleejtimes.com