Crescent enterprises partners with Dubai Cares to support education in developing world

Crescent Enterprises, a leading UAE based multi-national conglomerate, has partnered with Dubai Cares, a philanthropic organisation working to improve access to quality primary education for children in developing countries, to support the Dubai Cares' "Adopt a School" initiative in Palestine and Nepal. The three-year agreement was officially signed by Badr Jafar, Chief Executive Officer of Crescent Enterprises and Managing Director of the Crescent Group, and Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Cares, during a ceremony recently held at Dubai Cares offices. Under its Adopt a School initiative, Dubai Cares is seeking to build a number of schools in Palestine as well as the far western region of Nepal, an area blighted by ethnic conflict and forced slavery. Literacy rates among local marginalised people are well below Nepal's national average, and more than 60% of people live below the poverty line. As part of its wider Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, Crescent Enterprises will fund the construction of and play an active role in the development of a school in western Nepal to improve access to quality primary education for 150 children aged 5 - 12. The school will also be utilised for adult education and literacy classes and can accommodate up to 60 women. Speaking about the partnership, Badr Jafar commented, "The guiding principle of Crescent Enterprises is that we work on the basis of positively impacting the markets and societies in which we operate. The future prosperity of emerging economies depends upon young people, and especially women, gaining access to education and employment. Dubai Cares is committed to the provision of quality primary education in developing countries, and Crescent Enterprises shares this commitment. We are very proud to be involved in this initiative as part of our evolving relationship with Dubai Cares". According to Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Cares: "We have launched our Adopt a School initiative to fulfil the philanthropic needs of organisations and individuals looking to strengthen underdeveloped communities while creating long lasting legacies for themselves. Child education is a vital component of every person's life, and we are happy to see leading organisations in the UAE, such as Crescent Enterprises, actively involved in such a global social cause. We look forward to the support of similar organisations, which will allow us to provide access to quality primary education for more children in developing countries." Crescent Enterprises also participated in the Dubai Cares' "Burj of Giving" initiative recently, raising more than Dh 1 million in support of child education in developing countries through the sale of twenty miniature replicas of Burj Khalifa structures, painted by eminent Emirati artists.