Dubai: Former US president Bill Clinton launched the Varkey GEMS Foundation on Sunday, a non-profit charitable initiative designed to improve the lives of 10 million children globally.
The Foundation is part of GEMS Education, a Dubai company, and the largest kindergarten-to-Grade 12 private education operator in the world.
Speaking at Dubai American Academy, a GEMS school, Clinton said: "A quality education is the key to solving our most pressing global challenges. Education opens a whole new world of opportunities and choices for millions of underprivileged children," he said.
"The benefits from an educated child will affect not only the child itself, but his or her family and the wider community. The Varkey GEMS Foundation's commitment will bring that opportunity to millions more children around the world," Clinton said.
Clinton said that the Foundation will help all schools, and not only the ones affiliated with GEMS.
Chairman of GEMS Education Sunny Varkey said: "As we celebrate our 50th year in Dubai and the Middle East, GEMS is all the more committed to play a leading role in improving both the quality and access to education for children".
"His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has been at the forefront of philanthropic activities and we draw immense inspiration from Dubai's spirit of giving," Varkey said.
GEMS Education already works in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative, the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, Dubai Cares and Pratham.
