About the Cause
Dubai Cares’ programs are designed to reduce, if not remove, the greatest obstacles that prevent children and young people in developing countries from attaining quality education. With each intervention, Dubai Cares evaluates the need for assistance across two key areas:
Access to Education which allows Dubai Cares to improve children’s health and learning environment, increase education enrollment and attainment, increase access to education, reduce absenteeism, increase gender parity and increase promotion rates.
Quality of Education which enables early learning, enhances educational attainment and school progression, improves literacy and numeracy skills among children, enables teachers to access teacher training resulting in better learning outcomes, reduce dropout rates and increase primary school attainment.
Dubai Cares is a long-term advocate of safeguarding children and young people’s right to education and is currently playing a global advocacy role in spreading the knowledge about the importance of providing education to the unprivileged children.
We also champion education through research - There is an overwhelming lack of evidence as to what works to promote children’s learning in crisis-affected contexts. Research plays a pivotal role in tackling this issue.
My Story
Summary: Zambia has recorded a 20% increase in school dropout rate in the primary and secondary levels of education. This is according to the Central Statistics Authority report for education analysis of 2020 that shows that over 400, 000 scholars have dropped out of school due to economic hardships and effects of covid-19 pandemic. This is in addition to existing statistics and the situation is expected to be worse among low income families. The question therefore is, what is the way forward for these individuals? Hence, the Youth Empowerment for Self-Economic Freedom (YESEF) Project whose aim is to enhance the employability of School drop-outs and Unemployed youths through Vocational Skills Training in Tailoring; Livestock Farming; Food Production (catering); Carpentry and Joinery; Brick laying and Construction; Plumbing; Electrical Wiring & Fittings. Objectives of the Project: 1) To provide vocational and entrepreneurial skills training (VEST) School-dropouts and Unemployed youths so as to enhance their employability and provide a skilled foundation to build a career. 2) To empower young people to believe in their dreams and to enable the acquisition of income through formal and informal job prospects so that they can support their household and families. 3) Foster a change in community attitudes whereby everybody is given the opportunity to succeed. Expected Outcomes of the Programme: 1) Within the first year, 100 young people distributed fairly between school drop-outs and unemployed youths will participate in Vocational and Entrepreneurial Skills Training Programme with the initial goal of 50% of beneficiaries to be engaged in income-generating activities formally or informally following receipt of training. 2) Beneficiaries will become self-reliant and strongly resilient in addressing their challenges through newly acquired skills and learning. 3) Beneficiaries will be able to use the acquired skills to enhance their careers and employment prospects. 4) Beneficiaries will be able to use course completion certifications to add value to their curriculum vitae and enable wider career opportunities. 5) Overall impact: The program will contribute to Poverty Reduction This project is in full alignment with SDG4 to “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”, the program aims to support the efforts of Government to enhance the relevance of TVET Education System and to equip School Drop Outs and Unemployed Youths with the skills required for employment, decent work, entrepreneurship, and to contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a whole.