Ataya 2016 to spot light on education, revenues will be used to build schools in five war-torn countries

Ataya (meaning giving), a charity exhibition organized by the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) to support charitable establishments with funds raised from the exhibition, has been gaining increasing momentum in a short span of time as an important community-driven humanitarian initiative seeking to improve the living conditions of vulnerable segments and their aspirations for a decent life, H.H. Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, wife of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of the ERC, and Assistant to the ERC Chairman for Humanitarian Affairs, has said.

The charity exhibition will return to the capital, Abu Dhabi, again from May 8 to 12, 2016, at IPIC ARENA, Zayed Sports City, to showcase a wide range and variety of distinctive fashion, jewellery, home accessories and furniture by talented regional and international designers and artists. Ataya aims to support charitable establishments with funds raised from the proceeds of the exhibition, focus on building community service awareness among locals and younger generations, raise awareness and stress on the need for society to be a vital part of supporting the less fortunate, support local, regional, international projects and small businesses.

and to instil the value of charity in our community.

Sheikha Shamsa said Ataya was moving forward steadily towards excellence in its quest to work out creative and effective solutions to the most pressing challenges that people face currently and to achieve more gains in the best interest of those less fortunate.

She affirmed that the ERC's initiative was launched to promote and deliver the international humanitarian message of the UAE as one of the world's key donors of Official Development Assistance (ODA) under the guidance of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and Chairman of the ERC.

''It is no coincidence that the UAE has maintained, for the third time in a row, its ranking as one of the 10 largest donor states in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2015, according to official data collected by the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC). The UAE posted the highest ODA to Gross National Income (GNI) ratio in 2015 at 1.09 percent, with the country's ODA accounting for AED16.1 billion and over 52 percent of the aid, administered in the form of grants.

"The UAE is ranked as the second largest donor in terms of ODA to GNI ratio,'' Sheikha Shamsa said in a statement read out on her behalf by Dr. Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, ERC Secretary-General, during a press conference to announce the Ataya 2016.

Ataya's objective message and its far-sighted vision, she added, focuses on maintaining continuity and sustainability of the humanitarian work by addressing and tackling a variety of issues of concern to human communities. ''This year, Ataya will address issues in education with the aim of spreading learning and knowledge in some countries as key and vital contributors to human and humanitarian development,'' she added.

She regretted that millions of children have no access to education and become refugees as a result of instability in some countries struck by severe crises and wars. In this context, Ataya will spotlight the deteriorating condition of education in these countries and rally support and raise funds to provide learning to those innocent children.

Revenues of this year's fifth edition, she stated, would be directed to construct five schools in Yemen, Egypt, Mauritania, Afghanistan and the Philippines.

''We look forward to the fifth edition of Ataya that will deliver its objectives, as happened with previous editions, through enthusiastic response and support from do-gooders and philanthropists to the exhibition which will draw more than 100 exhibitors, 30 percent of whom are from the UAE,'' Sheikha Shamsa said.

Concluding her statement, she paid deep gratitude and extended thanks to sponsors and partners, namely, Al Dahra Holding Company, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Waha Capital, IPIC ARENA, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and Abu Dhabi Media Co. Representatives of sponsor companies also spoke at the press conference.

According to statistics posted on Ataya's website, in sub-Saharan Africa, more than 12 million girls may never receive an education. In Yemen, more than 80% girls will never have the opportunity to go to school.

More disturbingly, countries like Afghanistan and Somalia make no effort to reduce the gap between girls and boys, when it comes to education.

This is the disturbing trend Emirates Red Crescent will fight against - simply because education is, and must be, universal. Every child deserves a chance to a better life, and education gives that opportunity. It helps make the world a nobler place to live in. And it’s this better place that we need to hand down to the generations that follow us.

Accordingly, just as in the past, this year’s collections from Ataya will be dedicated to a noble cause. It will fund, design and build five schools in war torn countries across the world where children can attend regular classes, lay the foundation for a brighter future and help realize their dreams.

In 2012, Ataya's proceeds went to supporting the Children’s Cancer Centre in Lebanon, while revenues earned through donations, sponsorships and ticket sales in 2013 were used towards supporting Autistic children and Autism Centres within the UAE as well as centres for children with special needs. In 2014, the proceeds were used to support the Faraj Fund which helps free the UAE prisoners with financial debts, reuniting them with their families and giving them a second chance in life.

The 2015 revenues were used to build and operate a specialist women and children’s hospital in Northern Iraq, close to the city of Erbil.
Source:WAM