The Donate A Brick Campaign, a fundraising campaign launched by the Special Care Centre in 2008, continues its activities under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamma Bint Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The campaign, which aims to raise Dhs 50 million for the Special Care Centre in Abu Dhabi, has received a contribution of USD 1 million from ExxonMobil, an oil and gas corporation. The contribution is the largest made to date and has been granted towards the creation of a state-of-the-art educational facility for children with special needs in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

In a special ceremony held at Zayed University to mark the contribution, the USD 1 million cheque was handed over to the representative of the Donate A Brick Campaign in the presence of Sheikha Shamma Bint Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Dr. Sulaiman Al Jassim, Vice President of Zayed University, Morten Mauritzen, President of ExxonMobil companies in Abu Dhabi, and Mohammed Abduljaleel Al Fahim, Executive Chairman of the Special Care Centre, in addition to other guests.

Since its launch, the campaign’s fundraising initiatives has been supported by individuals, companies, and higher education institutions in the UAE. Last march, 13 student volunteers from Zayed University’s Abu Dhabi campus organized a fundraiser campaign under the supervision of students Sarah Saif Al Muharibi, Maha Mohammed Jaber Al Housni, Sarah Hamad Al Nakhlawi, and Mahra Al Hamli. The campaign succeeded in collecting Dhs 50,000. To date, the campaign has collected around Dhs 15 million, leaving more contributions to be made in order to achieve the set target.

Sheikha Shamma Bint Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a second year student at Zayed University, commended the UAE’s efforts to support and enable all citizens under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Her Highness also indicated that H.H General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahayan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has fully supported and encouraged all the initiatives of the campaign, particularly voluntary and humanitarian work that reinforces the high values of charity and peace regardless of race, religion or location. Sheikha Shamma emphasized the importance of connecting community organisations with special care centres and the local communities they serve.

The Special Care Centre provides essential services for children with special needs in Abu Dhabi, and aims to expand its outreach to more children in the UAE. To achieve that goal, the Centre needs the support of organisations and individuals through such charitable, targeted campaigns and initiatives.

Dr. Sulaiman Al Jassim said: "Zayed University the leading educational institution in the country and the region, has always considered community service, and volunteering for humanitarian and charitable causes a key element in building a student’s personality. "We are proud that the contribution of ZU’s student volunteers in the Donate a Brick Campaign, has inspired prestigious organizations like ExxonMobile to contribute to this noble cause, and help the campaign reach it’s desired goal".

Morten Mauritzen, President of ExxonMobil companies in Abu Dhabi, said, "ExxonMobil has been a part of the economic progress of Abu Dhabi for over 70 years and we are committed to making a positive and lasting contribution in the country.  The objectives of the centre are aligned with ExxonMobil’s educational programs. We strongly believe in the power of education in helping individuals reach their full potential. We are honored to support the Special Care Centre."
 
Mohammed Abduljaleel Al Fahim said: "Our aim is to complete the fundraising as soon as possible to enable us to start building the centre. Our waiting list is growing daily and we need the space and facilities to provide more services for our students as well as build a platform to advocate for people with special needs in Abu Dhabi. This is the time to act as the UAE along with Arab nations have declared 2003-2012 the Arab Decade of Disabled Persons. The generous contribution of ExxonMobil has accelerated our efforts and I hope will continue to encourage others to follow in their footsteps".

The ceremony also included an outreach movie on the roles played by the Special Care Centre in Abu Dhabi and the activities it conducts for educating, rehabilitating and caring for students with special needs.

At the ceremony, Sheikha Shamma personally greeted and thanked the students for participating in the ceremony, where a number of students at the Centre presented a painting that expressed their appreciation of the efforts of the campaign and the contributors, including the organizers, companies and individuals.
 

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