Van Cleef & Arpels raises AED 635,000 for Palestinian children

A special event was organised in Dubai recently at the Grand Hyatt Dubai under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, Wife of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence.

"As a responsible corporate entity, we strive to contribute to social and charitable causes that are non-political, non-religious and issues that are purely humanitarian such as supporting the children of Palestine," said Van Cleef & Arpels' Director, Stephane De Palmas.

He noted that providing a helping hand to the children of Palestine and to give them a hope for a bright future full of promise and opportunities is a noble cause.

A total of AED 635,000 was raised at the event with Van Cleef & Arpels Cadenas necklace in white gold and diamonds fetching an enormous AED 500,000 while a Cadenas watch was auctioned off for AED 135,000. There was an avid interest among the 500 strong gathering for the jewellery as well as a strong desire to contribute to the Palestinian cause.

UEUP was established in 2003 with the objective of providing the children of the Palestinian refugee camps with better educational opportunities, health facilities and a bright future without violence, hatred and discrimination.

For needy children in the refugee camps of the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon the primary aim is to provide for their basic needs such as food, clothing, educational tools and health care.

Poverty and restrictions on freedom of movement have adverse effects on children's living standards. Most children are almost wholly dependent on their parents for survival and their economic situation is therefore a key determinant of access to social, health and education resources required for adequate living. Approximately 75% of Palestinians currently live below the poverty line of $2 per day.

More than 364,000 children have suffered directly due to the reduction in income of their main source of support, with malnutrition rates for Palestinian children currently at 22%

Corporate social responsibility forms a vital part of Van Cleef & Arpels strategy and the jewellery house has contributed to several major initiatives since its inception in 1906.

Van Cleef & Arpels have recently opened a boutique in Dubai, strategically located in the new Bur Juman Centre, the residence of high fashion in the country. Located in the heart of Dubai, the BurJuman Centre is a distinctive landmark that comprises of 800,000 square feet of retail space.

Van Cleef & Arpels is a jewellery house known for its intricate, classic and stunning designs. Every piece of jewellery involves painstaking work as Van Cleef & Arpels have literally mastered the art of jewellery through an eye for ingenious detail, sophisticated mechanisms and well kept secrets such as telling time with a delicate touch of a flower's petal or a leaf set with jewels. The most precious jewellery and watches in the world are signed by Van Cleef & Arpels.