DUBAL employees donate AED 200,000 to the needy in Africa

In yet another clear demonstration of the caring culture nurtured at Dubai Aluminium Company (DUBAL), the company’s employees have responded to the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa by collectively donating AED 200,000 to relief efforts. A cheque to this amount was presented to representatives of UAE Red Crescent on Tuesday 13 September 2011, from where the money will be forwarded to those in need.

Mohammed Yahya (Manager: Corporate Relations & International Affairs) represented the employees at the cheque hand-over ceremony, conducted at the company’s premises in Jebel Ali. Marwan Al Sawaleh (General Manager: Human Resources) said “Our employees have demonstrated their generous and warm-heartedness by giving of their own income to the millions of people in the Horn of Africa region who are starving as a result of the worst drought in decades and the knock-on effects refugees fleeing the civil conflict in Somalia; and who are therefore in desperate need of support at this time. As a company, we are delighted at this outpouring of compassion. Not only does this support for international humanitarian aid reflect DUBAL’s position as a global player in the aluminium industry, but it also shows the desire of our employees to support the less privileged in society across the world,” 

The donation of funds follows closely on an activity conducted during Ramadan this year, whereby DUBAL conducted an enterprise-wide appeal for donations of non-perishable items. Members of the community also brought their donations to the company’s premises, allowing DUBAL to serve as a central collection point for the Jebel Ali area. A grand total of 18.2 tonnes and tonnes of rice, flour, sugar, powdered milk (for children), canned food and dried beans/pulses, plus hundreds of bottles of water, were collected over a two-week period and handed-over to UAE Red Crescent on Monday 15 August 2011 for on-forwarding to the Horn of Africa. 

“The response of our employees and the community has been extremely heart-warming,” commented Mr Yahya. “Our hope, as a company, is that the food, water and funds collected will make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people affected by the natural disaster and conflict in the region.”