DUBAI: Canon Middle East (CME), a provider of imaging technologies and services,will be hosting a fundraising event at Zaabeel Park on 28 September 2018 in partnership with Dubai Cares to raise AED 250,000to support two educational programmes, one in the Middle East and a second in Africa.
The Canon Day of Giving fundraising event will be hosted as a fun and entertaining carnival, and is open to families and the general public from across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to join and contribute to raising funds that will support two primary education programmes. The programmes are intended for school aged children who otherwise would not have access to primary education.
Anurag Agrawal, Managing Director, Canon Middle East, said: “Education remains an inaccessible for millions of children around the world.As global citizens, I believe we can work collaboratively to make a positive difference toward one of the biggest social challenges of our time. Access to education is recognised as a global fundamental right in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, and I therefore cordially invite UAE residents and visitors to come out in force and join the Canon Day of Giving to support the cause, and to have an enjoyable day out. Together we can make more children happy and optimistic about their future.”
Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer at Dubai Cares said: “We are happy to once again partner with Canon Middle East and build on our collaboration in an effort to provide children and young people access to quality education in developing countries. We value their efforts to launch a campaign and not only open it up to their stakeholders, but also to the wider community. We look forward to a high turnout from individuals, groups and families who will be contributing to raising funds for Dubai Cares.”
In the Middle East, the funds raised will support a two-year Early Childhood Development programme in Jordan aimed at Syrian refugees. Jordan currently hosts the second largest number of Syrian refugees in the world, and the access to education is limited, especially in the age group 0-6 years old. The Early Childhood Development programme will provide children aged 5-6 access to safe, early years education that is supported by education technology through mobile applications which can be accessed by the parents to supplement the learning at home as well.
The Canon Day of Giving is a large-scale event which aims to attract visitors, including families, who will support the fundraising by purchasing coupon booklets to participate in the event’s activities to help raise the target amount.The event will include a variety of engaging activities, games, competitions,and entertainment for visitors to enjoy and participate in. It will also feature several food and beverage stalls.
Throughout the day, visitors will spend the time bonding with each other, participating in the activities and entertainment, as well as celebrate the spirit of giving, kindness and love embodied by the Year of Zayed.
Some of the events include a Talent Show, the Largest Number Family Pic competition, Dressed by Kids Day competition, as well as game counters, a kids’ activities area and entertaining performances.The event will also include a raffle draw for a variety of valuable prizes.
“Over the years, Canon has undertaken a series of initiatives that promote and support education and personal development across the Middle East and Africa, and we will continue building on these programmes. In 2015 we raised funds and Canon employees volunteered for the “Adopt a school” initiative by Dubai Cares to build a new school in Senegal. Today we are continuing our partnership by supporting additional educational programmes with the aim of helping shape future citizens in the Middle East by providing children with access to primary education. These ongoing initiatives also demonstrate Canon’s solid commitment to our corporate philosophy of ‘Kyosei,’ which means living and working together for the common good, especially in the communities in which we operate,” added Mai Youssef, Corporate Communications and Marketing Services Director, Canon Middle East and Canon Central and North Africa.
The Canon Day of Giving is part of the Canon’s larger ‘Follow Your Happiness’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaign in the region and driven by three pillars: Future, Youth and Happiness. Giving back to the community and supporting CSR activities fall within the Happiness pillar which engages Canon’s own employees by giving them the opportunity to become active members within their own work environment as well as the larger community.The Canon Day of Giving will be primarily driven by Canon’s own employees as volunteers to ensure the success of the fundraising campaign.
The Canon Day of Giving event will be hosted in Zabeel Park Amphitheatre on September 28, 2018 from 2 pm until 10pm. Entry will be through gates 1and 3. News Desk
