A charity organisation on Friday recognised the efforts of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Prime Minister, for his efforts to advance education ahead of the eighth anniversary of his accession. Dubai Cares, a UAE philanthropic organisation, hailed Sheikh Mohammed for placing education at the centre of progress, peace and prosperity both at home and in the developing world. "On this momentous occasion and on behalf of the Dubai Cares team, I would like to hail His Highness Sheikh Mohammed for his visionary leadership, which has seen Dubai transform into a global metropolis and one of the best places to live in,” said Tariq Al Gurg, chief executive of Dubai Cares. "Underpinning the success of the city has been its futuristic vision, ambition as well as its emphasis on growing knowledge and competence, both at home and abroad through education.” The organisation was set up in 2007 by Sheikh Mohammed to improve children's access to quality primary education in developing countries, regardless of their nationality, creed or religion. Mr Al Gurg said: "Sheikh Mohammed has identified education as a key area of development for the UAE, as evidenced by the recent largest national brainstorming session that he launched to suggest ideas to improve the health and education sector in the UAE. "The global economy is increasingly moving towards a knowledge-based format. In this ever-evolving context, education provides youth the opportunity to move beyond limitations that held back previous generations and change the future of their respective nations, setting them on the right path to progress.” More than eight million children in 31 countries are being helped by Dubai Cares. It has built and renovated more than 1,500 schools and classrooms, provided more than 1,000 water wells and potable water sources. It is also constructing more than 3,000 latrines in schools, providing nutritious food every day to more than 500,000 children in schools and training 23,000 teachers. The organisation is also helping to keep more than 2.3 million children free from illness, such as intestinal worms, through its deworming activities; has distributed more than 2.1 million books written in local languages; and established more than 6,750 Parent-Teacher