Barclays resumes 'A Time To Give' Ramadan initiative for the second year

In 2008, Barclays Egypt invited a number of Barclays banks located in other countries to participate in a collective campaign under the slogan "A Time To Give" Ramadan Initiative, and Barclays UAE and Pakistan were keen to participate. The initiative was resumed in 2009 to include the three participating Barclays banks who launched several initiatives and their employees have participated in them.

Mr. Omar ElSayeh, Chairman, Barclays Bank Egypt, commented

"supporting the communities in which we operate is one of the cornerstones of Barclays Egypt's strategies, and it is part of the bank's annual plan to support a number of projects and initiatives focused on community development. We are pleased to be continuing with the "A Time To Give" Ramadan Initiative this year, which was launched regionally last year in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia and which included the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan. It is with great pride that every year we see the number of Bank employees volunteering for the charity work in Ramadan increasing."

In 2009, Barclays Bank Egypt was part of an initiative to purchase food for 4,000 people in order to provide sustenance for 1,000 families in need, as well as sponsoring the Ramadan Iftar tent in the shooting club throughout the month of Ramadan. A large number of Barclays employees from the bank's 65 branches throughout Egypt prepared Ramadan packages which were distributed by Awlad Misr Association in a number of Egyptian governorates to families in need of support. As part of the bank's sponsorship of the Ramadan Iftar tent, approximately 8,000 children, elderly and disabled were invited to have iftar and enjoy a live entertainment show. Barclays employees and media who participated in the event showed great enthusiasm and willingness to help, and were involved in both initiatives as well as helping distribute gifts to the people invited to the tent.

In the United Arab Emirates, Barclays Bank partnered with the Red Crescent and prepared 300 Ramadan packages for distribution to impoverished families, as well as hosting 180 orphans in Dar Zayed Institute in AbuDhabi and the Red Crescent Headquarters in Dubai for an iftar.

Barclays UAE also donated Dhs16,000 to aid in the educational expenses for orphans in Beit Kheir Foundation. In Barclays Pakistan, 97 bank employees volunteered and helped pack and distribute 300 Ramadan packages to impoverished families in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and Faisalabad, in association with the Red Crescent and UNICEF.