Here’s how Sheikh Mohammed wants us all to help out the needy across the Muslim world this Ramadan…

Remember when we told you that H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, had set up a fund of Dhs5 billion to help the needy across the Arab world?

Well one of the first major initiatives from that fund has just been unveiled in time for Ramadan, and it’s called Reading Nation.

The educational campaign aims see 5 million books donated to children in refugee camps as well as schools in need around the Muslim world. The government will donate two million books, and then the goal is to reach another three million through donations from those living and working in the UAE.

“Combating ignorance is the fastest route to combating poverty,” explained Sheikh Mohammed of the programme.]

*ALSO: Sheikh Mohammed’s letter on the future of the UAE*

“Ramadan is a month of action, change and hope. The UAE will always remain a beacon of charity through serving Muslims across the world with modern tools that spread knowledge. If we truly want to open doors of hope for millions, we need to help them gain the knowledge they need.”

Reading Nation will also see 2,000 libraries set up around the world. “We plan to move from feeding the hungry to nurturing minds,” said Sheikh Mohammed.

“If we want to open doors of hope to millions, we must open the doors for them to science and knowledge,” the ruler of Dubai added.

The initiative can be donated to (whether you’re a company or a private individual), and you can do so here.

“In some countries, 30 children share one book,” explained Sheikh Mohammed. “Therefore, our religious and civil responsibility is to support those seeking knowledge wherever they are. Our religion encourages us to seek knowledge that paves the way towards building civilisations. Books do, indeed, facilitate people’s journey to enlightenment and help secure a prosperous future.”

Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Secretary-General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future, explained that 2016 is the Year of Reading in the UAE

“Each Ramadan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launches a unique philanthropic campaign which he directly supports and supervises,” Gergawi explained. “Such campaigns aim to unify the UAE’s humanitarian efforts during this Holy Month and leave a benevolent Emirati footprint across the Arab and Islamic worlds.

“Around 10,000 schools in the Arab world do not have student libraries. There are also millions of refugee children left without any educational programmes or school books. Through this campaign, we will attempt to bridge a part of this knowledge gap.

“The Ramadan campaign ‘Reading Nation’, will begin with a significant contribution from government institutions and community members. Through this cooperation, we seek to make it a huge success every year.”

Etisalat and du have dedicated toll-free numbers through which individuals can make donations via text:

Text 9030 to donate 3 books (Dhs30)

Text 9090 to donate 9 books (Dhs90)

Text 9300 to donate 30 books (Dhs300)

Text 9900 to donate 90 books (Dhs900)

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

Here’s more on the general fund that Sheikh Mohammed has set up to do good in the Muslim world…

WHAT THE FUND WILL GO TOWARDS IN THE UAE

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– Education in the UAE and help with school fees

– Orphanages and shelters

– Help for impoverished families

– Aid for in-vitro fertilisation

– University grants and scholarships

– Autism and cancer support

– Help for those in debt

– Financial help for the weddings of young Emirati couples

WHAT THE FUND WILL GO TOWARDS IN THE REST OF THE ARAB WORLD

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– Aid for medicine, health, children’s cancer and heart disease

– A self-sufficiency fund for communities, as well as youth projects

– Support for farmers and land reclamation

– Aid for orphans

– Financial help for weddings for the needy.

The Dhs5 billion fund is part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Global Initiative, which oversees organisations like Noor Dubai, UAE Water Aid and Dubai Cares.

By 2035 the organisation hopes to have educated 20 million children, to have distributed more than 10 million books and to have treated blindness in 30 million people.

Photos: Twitter/HHShkMohd & SheikhMohammed.ae