Dubai Investment Group champions Manzil's Cause for Children with Special Needs

The event, held at the Murooj Rotana, was part of Dubai Investment Group's endeavour to raise funds for the Centre to aid its educational, therapeutic and creative initiatives.

Soud Ba'alawy, Chairman of the Manzil board and Executive Chairman of Dubai Group, said: "Dubai Investment Group's core philosophy extends beyond conducting business. Philanthropy and community involvement are as much our priority as the country's economic progress.

"Having been associated with Manzil since its inception, the Dubai Investment Group endorses charitable activities, and consciously integrates compassionate codes within its workings in order to deliver value-added services. Through initiatives such as Manzil, it hopes to bring relief to less fortunate children and help integrate them into mainstream educational and social sectors."

Sandi Saksena, Permanent Trustee of Manzil, said: "Manzil is an organisation that takes special care to design individualised programmes that accelerate the learning process of its children. Manzil's personalised curriculum promotes the physical and social behaviour of each child.

"Unlike other schools, Manzil continues with its students' education even beyond 18 years of age. It prepares them for life outside the classroom, and serves as a learning centre for its students as long as they require."

Addressing the audience, Aida Al Busaidy, Corporate Communications and Marketing Manager, Dubai Investment Group, said: "Apart from establishing strategic partnerships with world class organisations, Dubai Investment Group has an equally active community outreach programme. Focusing our resources on Manzil is an affirmation of our responsibility to work alongside organizations that help raise awareness of social responsibility."

Recently, Manzil secured work placements for its students with HSBC, the Landmark Group and Dusit Dubai. The Centre takes the initiative to seek sponsors for children from economically weaker backgrounds. In spite of achieving a fair measure of success in this initiative, Manzil still has a long waiting list of children seeking sponsors.