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Tuesday, November 10 - 2009

Shoe Box Appeal supports Dubai's construction sector

  • United Arab Emirates: Monday, September 01 - 2008 at 10:35
  • PRESS RELEASE

Construction workers are the focus of a community initiative Shoe Box Appeal spearheaded by the Radisson SAS, Dubai Media City as part of their annual Responsible Business CSR initiative.

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  • Construction workers are the focus of a community initiative Shoe Box Appeal spearheaded by the Radisson SAS, Dubai Media City as part of their annual Responsible Business CSR initiative in conjunction with Helping Hands, TECOM Investments - a member of Dubai Holding, Union Paper Mills, Gulf News Broadcasting Corporation and Strategic Solutions.
    Construction workers are the focus of a community initiative Shoe Box Appeal spearheaded by the Radisson SAS, Dubai Media City as part of their annual Responsible Business CSR initiative in conjunction with Helping Hands, TECOM Investments - a member of Dubai Holding, Union Paper Mills, Gulf News Broadcasting Corporation and Strategic Solutions.
DMC's flagship hotel has launched the Shoe Box Appeal to reach out to the construction workers in Dubai, in conjunction with Helping Hands, a UAE-based charitable organisation working with industrial workers, and TECOM Investments, a member of Dubai Holding and leading developer of knowledge-based business clusters.

The campaign is also supported by Union Paper Mills, Gulf News Broadcasting Corporation and Strategic Solutions.

According to Siegfried Nierhaus, General Manager, Radisson SAS, DMC, the UAE's real estate and construction sectors are expected contribute 23% to the national economy by year 2010.

Nierhaus said:
"We want to recognise the labour force in the UAE who contribute so much to the cities in which we work. Their efforts are changing the skylines and our Shoe Box Appeal appreciates the essential role that the construction teams play in building our infrastructure."


"The Shoe Box Appeal campaign works on the simple concept of collecting daily-use everyday lifestyle items that we take for granted which are essentials for these steadfast workmen," he said.

According to Helping Hands, a large number of workers in UAE experience unfavorable lifestyle conditions including living away from their families for long time; extreme weather conditions; as well as the challenges of an expat life, such as isolation, cultural and social pressures.

"The community has a much larger role to play in integrating this segment of society and to better their health, welfare and economic conditions, and the Shoe Box Appeal stands as a great example,"

said Elle of the Roger and Elle duo at Helping Hands.

Mohamed Almulla, Executive Director, Dubai Media City and Spokesperson - TECOM Investments has also pledged the free zone's support to mobilise the number of Shoe Box collection and donation points throughout TECOM Free Zones, including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, and Dubai Knowledge Village.

"As a socially responsible organisation, TECOM Investments believes in extending a helping hand to worthy social and humanitarian causes. The labour force in the UAE is playing an important role in driving forward growth targets. We are pleased to support an initiative that recognises their crucial role," Almulla said.

Meanwhile, Union Paper Mills has also jumped on board to supply the 'shoe boxes' used to collect and distribute the donated items of the campaign.

"This is a true-blue community effort to donate daily-use items. It is a simple but solid gesture that the people of the UAE can support,"

said Ifthikar Ahmed, Executive Officer, Union Paper Mills.

Susan Furness, CEO, Strategic Solutions added:
"Corporate Social Responsibility is not a niche promotional activity but a must-have channel to community for any business looking for sustainability, not short-term gain."


Furness said, "The construction workforce has contributed to Dubai and the UAE's growth, and thus to all of our tomorrows. It is time for us to stand up in recognition and do something, however small, to acknowledge the favour!"

Judith Malik, Promotions & Marketing Manager, Gulf News Broadcasting concluded:
"Radio 1, Radio 2 and GNB welcome this occasion to work alongside the other Shoe Box Appeal campaign sponsors to help the community at large."


Malik said, "It brings a stronger meaning to the Ramadan season when we help those who could most use our assistance. We also get the chance to share that good feeling by giving our listeners the opportunity to contribute as well."
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Notes and media contacts

The Shoe Box Appeal campaign by Radisson SAS, Dubai Media City.

A list of items that can be donated

1. T-Shirt
2. Cap
3. Disposable Razor
4. Shaving Cream
5. Aftershave
6. Body Deodorant
7. Tooth Brush
8. Tooth Paste
9. Nail Clippers
10. Small Hand Towels
11. Comb
12. Hair Oil
13. Wallet
14. Soap
15. Shampoo

- No Money or food items to be included
- All the collections points have small boxes and a list of items that can be donated
- Individuals and Corporates are welcome to donate these items
- Donations can be made during working hours

About Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts:

Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts, part of The Rezidor Hotel Group, offers first class service, providing guests with a contemporary, upscale hospitality experience. Radisson SAS has received numerous awards for Best Hotel Chain and is renowned for its "Yes I Can" spirit of service and the "100% Guest Satisfaction Guarantee". September 2005 saw the roll out of a free broadband service across the portfolio - the first international hotel chain to offer this service. Radisson SAS currently includes more than 210 hotels either in operation or under development and with more than 48,000 rooms in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

About TECOM Investments:

TECOM Investments, based in Dubai, is a subsidiary of Dubai Holding, a global company dedicated to knowledge and life-improving industries. A creator of vibrant knowledge industry clusters, TECOM Investments is currently active in buoyant cutting-edge sectors like ICT, Media, Education, Biotechnology and Energy.

A recognized leader in the global knowledge industry, TECOM Investments manages entities like Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Knowledge Village, Dubai International Academic City, eHosting DataFort, International Media Production Zone, Dubai Outsource Zone, Dubai Studio City, DuBiotech and Enpark.

TECOM Investments' phenomenal growth also encompasses local and international joint venture interests like Empower, a district cooling service provider established as a joint venture with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Emirates International Telecommunications Limited, a joint venture with Dubai Investment Group and SmartCity, a joint venture formed with SAMA Dubai to develop and manage knowledge industry townships worldwide.

Emirates International Telecommunications Limited holds stakes in Tunisie Telecom and Maltacom, telecommunication carriers in Tunisia and Malta respectively. SmartCity has already laid the foundations of a global network of knowledge driven clusters through agreements to develop SmartCity Malta and SmartCity Kochi.

TECOM Investments also has interests in Axiom, the largest mobile distributor in the Middle East, and Interoute, the operator of Europe's most densely connected voice and data network.

About Helping Hands:

Helping Hands UAE is a secular charitable project managed by Roger and Elle. The team reaches out and makes a difference in the lives of the neediest people in this society. We target the lowest paid migrant workers - often the invisible, with extremely low disposable income and often neglected members of society.

We work with do an assessment of immediate needs: food, sometimes furniture, bedding/towels or medical treatment and we arrange for the transportation. Afterward, we ask one of our donors to monitor and make sure all is running smoothly with the family. With the emotional stress subsided, we do what we can to assist finding jobs, so that there is an income again.

We have recruiters who work with us, and as soon as we can get a CV we get it up on the radar of the recruiters ASAP.

About Union Paper Mills:

Union Paper Mills is the pioneer in manufacturing of paper and paper boards in the UAE and are a part of major business group MAHY Khoory & Co.

The paper mill is a unique manufacturing setup that produces packing grades of paper of international quality standards. The mills are operational since 1988 and are equipped with two paper machines capable of producing 400 tons of paper per day in various substance range.

Gulf News Broadcasting, LLC:

Broadcasting clear across the Emirates, Radio 1 (104.1 & 100.5 fm) and Radio 2 (99.3 & 106 fm) has served as the English language stations of choice for many in the UAE for over a decade.

As part of the Al Nisr Group, GNB represents the highest in quality, reliability and dependability in broadcasting, just as Al Nisr Publishing LLC and its sister company, Al Nisr Media FZE LLC have done in establishing themselves as dynamic publishing and media houses, dedicated to providing the very best in media to the Gulf region.

About Strategic Solutions:

Strategic Solutions is a strategic marketing, brand management and public relations company with a focus on working with organisations wishing to speak in a planned manner to Arabia, or Arabian-based firms speaking to the global market place.

For more information, please contact

Farida Parekh
Marketing & Communications Manager
Radisson SAS Hotel, Dubai Media City
Tel: + 971 04 3669111

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