DPG launches Child Focused Initiative under Corporate Responsibility Platform

Properties Group, a member of Dubai Holding, recently established a partnership with Dubai Autism Center as part of its 2013 Corporate Responsibility Programme entitled ‘Helping Children Smile’. 

The partnership marks the beginning of DPG’s ‘Helping Children Smile’ Programme which will form an integral part of the developer’s existing ‘Responsible Living’ platform first launched in 2011. Other initiatives presented in the wider ‘Helping Children Smile’ Programme will include a range of community based events and activities to promote sustainability, caring for the community and people in need; details of which will be announced in the coming months. 

Pictured at the MoU signing ceremony to mark the start of the partnership is Group CEO of DPG, Khalid Al Malik and Director General and board member of the Dubai Autism Center, Mohammed Al Emadi. The DPG Dubai Autism Center partnership will include the provision of accommodation for a staff member from Dubai Autism Center in addition to a pledge from DPG to utilize its internal and external assets and stakeholders to create awareness and generate donations to the center. 

Speaking about the partnership, Khalid Al Malik, Group CEO of DPG said, “We at DPG are honoured to partner with Dubai Autism Center; an organization I personally believe makes a big difference in the lives of children with Autism and their families, and we look forward to working with the Center for what will be a rewarding and inspirational experience.” 

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Mohammad Al Emadi of Dubai Autism Center said: "We are pleased with this partnership with DPG and we believe that this joint endeavor will aid us in our quest to create a better, safer environment for children with Autism and more importantly create awareness and better community understanding of Autism." 

Dubai Autism Center was founded in November 2001 with the issuance of a decree from H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and offers intervention, assessment and diagnosis of the condition. Autism in the UAE has increased rapidly in recent years, with 1 in 88 children now diagnosed with the condition and today the Dubai Autism Center, located in Al Dhiyafa, has 46 students, 17 of which are UAE nationals, and a further 270 students on the waiting list.