(MENAFN- Gulf Times)World leaders who are superpowers should spend their money on books, schools and pens rather than on tanks, cannons and other weapons of war, World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) Prize for Education Laureate Dr Sakena Yacoobi urged.
"In doing this, they will see a peaceful world," she stressed, thanking Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) chairperson HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser for giving recognition to creativity and innovation on education.
Dr Yacoobi was speaking at the closing session of WISE 2015 yesterday in the presence of HH Sheikha Moza, dignitaries and participants from different countries.
The WISE Prize for Education Laureate said that world leaders should follow in the footstep of HH Sheikha Moza for investing heavily on education.
"I believe what you are doing in WISE will help the world. In giving recognition to education, you will bring peace and we need peace because many people suffer from war, conflicts, poverty, and health issues," Dr Yacoobi noted.
She observed that every leader in every nation should address the root cause of poverty which is the lack of education. "If every child goes to school today, there will be no war in the world."
Established by QF in 2011 to recognize outstanding life-long achievement in any field of education, the WISE Prize aims to raise global awareness of the crucial role of education in all societies, a testament to QF's commitment to unlocking human potential.
In her speech, Dr Yacoobi said she studied in the US and returned to Afghanistan to put up learning institutions aimed at educating young girls in a huge refugee camp.
She founded the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) which provides education, training, and healthcare services to Afghans especially women and children. She supported underground home schools for 3,000 girls across the country when girls' schools were closed by the Taliban.
For 20 years, AIL led by Dr Yacoobi worked hard in teaching young children and expanded access to quality education to the most vulnerable of Afghan society.
"We provide schools, health services and other services - and thousands come to us from university, high school requesting space at our compound. Why? Because they trust us. They discuss democracy, politics, peace, health," she noted.
"They discuss all kinds of topics and they get ideas and critical thinking. That's the way you transform people: by giving them a free space where they can share ideas, creativity and innovation freely," Dr Yacoobi added.
WISE also announced that the nomination for the 2016 Awards is now open until January 15. Applications and nominations can be submitted online on http://www.wise-qatar.org/wise-awards-2016
Introduced by WISE in 2009, the annual awards identify, celebrate, and promote innovative projects for their positive contribution to education and society. It has recognized 42 projects for their innovative, transformative impact since its inception.
In a press statement, WISE said the awards highlight initiatives found to be most creative and effective in finding solutions to education challenges at any level and in all environments.
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