Dubai, June 16, 2008 – An initiative launched by HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai to improve the physical and emotional health and sport among Dubai’s youngsters has officially appointed Right To Play as its partner.
Unique in this region, The Princess Haya Initiative for the Development of Health, Physical Education and School Sports will be implemented by the international Right To Play organization. HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, has set a goal of improving the outcomes of education in Dubai.
Mr Samer Kamal, Business Development Manager of Right To Play, and Fatma Al Marri, CEO of Dubai Schools Agency, the first agency of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), have now signed a service agreement which will take the initiative ahead. It is already operating in all of Dubai’s public schools from Grades 1-12, where sports and athletics curricula have been changed and enhanced. Approximately 20,000 young people have taken part in activities organized under its umbrella.
H.E Fatma Al Marri said at the signing: “There is scientific proof of the link between physical health and emotional well-being. It is very important that our children have the facilities and the guidance to take part in all kinds of sporting activities so that they can take a love of sport in to their adult lives.”
Mr Kamal of Right To Play added: “This is exciting for us, as our pilot schemes have already shown that young people in Dubai want to take part in sporting activities. Now, with the signing of this agreement, The Princess Haya Initiative will be able to roll out its programme and reach even more students. We would like to thank her for taking such a strong leading role in this.”
The KHDA has been working with schools to adapt Right To Play’s processes to the local climate, and make them culturally appropriate for Dubai. It is hoped that the initiative in Dubai will become a template to spread a love of sports in other parts of the region.
At the official launch of the initiative on October 23, 2007, Fatma Al Marri listed some of the problems facing Dubai’s schoolchildren which it is hoped this initiative will tackle. They included:
- Many students lack life skills
- There is a spread of aggressive behaviour among students
- Students lack adequate knowledge of the cultures of other societies
- There is a lack of programmes that encourage team spirit
- Students are not using their leisure time beneficially and responsibly
- There is a lack of the spirit of volunteerism among students
- There is a high prevalence of diseases such as diabetes and obesity among school students
This week, a group of 10 people involved with the initiative will go to Toronto, Canada, where Right To Play is based, for a workshop to train teachers to become mentors. Eight of the group are teachers in public schools in Dubai.