The Ritz-Carlton, Doha gives back to the graduating students of Shafallah Center

The Ritz-Carlton Give Back Getaways volunteer vacation program offers guests an exceptional opportunity to give back to the community in a way that is meaningful to them and to the lives of others.

Participating in a half-day local community experience, guests will work alongside Ritz-Carlton Ladies and Gentlemen in a Community Footprints social or environmental project. The Give Back Getaways experience is unique to each destination and designed to make a lasting contribution and enduring impression.

This year, guests of The Ritz-Carlton, Doha can volunteer their time to assist in the hotel's Give Back Getaway program, 'A Green Oasis,' which offers them an exclusive opportunity to work with the ladies and gentlemen of the hotel alongside the students of Shafallah Center in creating a lavish garden for the students at their new learning center provided by Shafallah Center.

Guests are able to get physically involved and lend their green thumbs as they plant a garden of trees, pot indoor and outdoor potted plants, and cultivate a grass area for the graduating students of Shafallah to enjoy.

The Ritz-Carlton, Doha landscaping team lead by Bulath Duminda, The Ritz-Carlton, Doha Landscaping Manager, will also be available to provide professional advice and guidance to all volunteers on the day. They will also assist in the irrigation systems to be implemented throughout the center in order to maintain the gardens throughout the year.

"We are thrilled to be able to support the Shafallah Center and provide an opportunity for the students to have an area where they can relax and enjoy beautiful surroundings in their newly established location. It's important for the students to feel comfortable in their new surroundings where they will continue to learn and grow and we hope we have been able to provide this for them." said Mr. Willy Ribbe, Area General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Doha.

"The Ritz-Carlton, Doha has a long standing relationship with The Shafallah Centre for Children with Special Needs. We feel that the work the center does is simply too important to future generations and we are very proud to be associated with the center. We started this relationship with simple donations and other projects such as The Shafallah 'Art from the Heart Gift Shop' which is an avenue for these highly gifted students to display their work from years of learning and development,"

says Avinash Menon, Director Human Resources, The Ritz-Carlton, Doha.

"This newest venture under our Give Back Getaway's program is quite unique as it allows our hotel to be involved in creating a 'a green oasis' for the students to enjoy and for many future generations of students to enjoy for years to come," Menon added.

'Give Back Getaways' is the most recent opportunity to volunteer under Community Footprints, The Ritz-Carlton social and environmental responsibility program.

"We have come to recognize the interest many of our guests have in becoming more involved in the region where they are spending their vacation. Many of them are active volunteers in worthwhile activities at home, and want to continue this spirit of giving when they visit other parts of the world," explained Simon F. Cooper, president and chief operating officer.

"We believe Give Back Getaways is a unique way for our hotels to partner with guests to provide an experience both memorable and personally enriching," he added.

Other 'Give Back Getaways' within the Middle East include 'Children we Care' at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain and 'A Flower for Each Spring' at Sharq Village and Spa, Doha.

"The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has always been committed to the support of local charities and causes and our ladies and gentlemen have donated tens of thousands of hours of paid time and their own time to organizations in their neighborhoods. Our employees around the world worked for months to develop the Give Back Getaways offerings and are immensely proud to have the opportunity to share the soul of our company with our guests," explained Sue Stephenson, Vice President, Community Footprints.

"We believe extending this opportunity to our guests to participate in sharing their time and their skills is a fine example of "voluntourism" in the hospitality industry," Stephenson added.

Located in the capital city of Doha, the Shafallah Center currently provides quality special education, intensive physical therapy and family support services for over 400 children ages 3 to 21. The Shafallah Center serves children with autism, learning disabilities and mental and physical disabilities.

Soaring 115 meters above Qatar's sea and desert landscape, The Ritz-Carlton, Doha is an impressive symbol of the nation's emergence as a destination for travelers to the Middle East. The 374-room, five-star hotel, fuses contemporary styling with classic Arabic and European design, creating a hotel with a promise of setting a new benchmark for luxury and sophistication in the region.

Located on its own exclusive island in the prestigious West Bay Lagoon district, the hotel has sweeping views, which overlook the turquoise blue waters of the Arabian Gulf.