Culture & Education | Monday 6 June, 2016 5:15 pm |

One day after His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the ‘Reading Nation’ Ramadan campaign to provide five million books to children in refugee camps and underprivileged school students across the world, the total number of donations collected from businessmen and local entities and organizations amounted to AED10 million - including AED3 million from Etisalat, AED3 million from Du, AED1 million from Kanoo Group, AED1 million from Al Ansari Exchange, AED300,000 from the heirs of Obaid Mohammed Al Helou and 1.9 million donations were collected through SMS messaging.  

 

This rapid response to the campaign from Emiratis and local entities reflects the UAE’s commitment to humanitarian and development goals and its keenness in contributing to make a difference in the lives of millions of children in the Arab and Islamic worlds. The campaign also validates the UAE’s national priority of leveraging knowledge as a tool to achieve progress, and make books a companion for ambitious future generations. 

 

The ‘Reading Nation’ campaign offers three corporate donation bundles. The Silver Bundle enables donations ranging from AED1 million to AED3 million to provide between 100,000 to 300,000 books. The Golden Bundle enables corporations to donate AED3 million to AED4 million, providing between 300,000 and 400,000 books. Finally, the Platinum Bundle facilitates corporate donations above AED5 million to provide 500,000 books and more. Corporate donations start from AED500,000 and can reach up to AED10 million. 

 

The campaign is a continuation of the UAE’s annual humanitarian agenda that is implemented during the Holy Month of Ramadan. Previous initiatives have succeeded in achieving their development goals by offering food and water to millions of underprivileged people across the globe. The campaign will continue until the 19th day of Ramadan that coincides with the Zayed Humanitarian Day. 

 

The ‘Reading Nation’ campaign aims to provide five million books for children in refugee camps and underprivileged school students across the world. It will distribute two million books to children and students in refugee camps, in addition to providing 2,000 libraries in the Muslim world with two million books, and supporting educational programs of Emirati humanitarian organizations working abroad through the provision of one million books. 

 

The campaign is managed by a committee that is headed by His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Secretary General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future. The committee comprises a number of government entities, media organizations, and national and humanitarian organizations across the UAE, including representatives from the Emirates Red Crescent, Dubai Cares, Du Telecommunications, Etisalat, Abu Dhabi Media, Dubai Media Incorporated, Arab Media Group, national Arabic and English newspapers and publications, and International Humanitarian City. 

 

Etisalat and Du Telecommunications will dedicate toll-free numbers through which individuals can make donations to the campaign throughout Ramadan, with each book costing AED10.  

 

The Emirates Red Crescent and Dubai Cares will also receive donations through their bank accounts, branch locations, and donation kiosks across the country.

 

In addition, the UAE Ministry of Education will organize events and activities throughout the campaign period to encourage students to donate books, that will be sent to children and students in refugee camps.

 

In support of the campaign, Abu Dhabi Media, Dubai Media Incorporated, Arab Media Group, and major national newspapers and publications, in Arabic and English, will come together to provide extensive coverage of events and activities linked to the campaign.

 

Dedicated platforms and kiosks will be set up in shopping malls to enable members of the public to make cash donations and also write personal messages to children in refugee camps and other underprivileged students in beneficiary countries.