Education is the most effective weapon against poverty. The more a society is educated, the less the poor it is, since poverty take a strong hold on places where there is an abundance of illiteracy due to lack of education.
Africa is a classic example. The Dark Continent is divided into two parts. The major part is poor, while the other is trying to combat poverty through education, such as South Africa and other countries that Europeans have made their home, after getting rid of racism and segregation.
In our Arab nation, poverty exists, despite all efforts. However, the efforts of some countries, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to provide education for all are starting to pay off.
I believe that the literacy rate of the GCC countries will reach at least 95 per cent by the first quarter of this century, especially in the UAE, where great emphasis is placed on providing education for all.
Dubai Cares, the charity campaign launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, highlights the fact that assistance provided to poor children of the world by official and non-government organisations is not enough.
Shaikh Mohammad believes that educating a child is the best way to save him from poverty, and to teach him how to live a decent life and not to depend on charities.
There is no doubt that Shaikh Mohammad's project - fighting poverty with education - adds to the achievements of the leader who has always worked to create and offer the most beneficial initiatives not only for the people of the UAE, but to the whole world.
It is wrong to say that such creative projects must not exceed their local environment, as we are part of this world, which is made smaller due to modern technologies and the media. We have our impact on the world, and interact with it promptly.
Important point
Another important point is that keeping children of the world poor and deprived is very harmful to global stability and peace and a hurdle to its growth.
Undoubtedly, the instability in many parts of the world is caused by deprivation, poverty and ignorance.
This is why Shaikh Mohammad's leading humanitarian and civilised project must be supported by all so that it is a big success. This would reflect positively on the UAE and help it emerge as a generous nation that participates in the prosperity of all humanity.
Abdul Ghaffar Hussain is a UAE writer.
