GE volunteers are a class act

Fifteen employees from across the spectrum of GE businesses, including Corporate, Energy, Security, Water, and Consumer & Industrial, volunteered their time to build a mobile classroom for the pupils at manzil to use as a creative learning environment. GE volunteers were responsible for designing, painting and sourcing all materials for the classroom and built it from scratch in just three weeks.

"GE Volunteers is a well established programme designed to give employees the opportunity to give back into the community and make a difference to causes such as manzil. As an organisation GE is committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can achieve their full potential,"

said Nabil Habayeb, President & CEO, GE Middle East & Africa.

The new mobile classroom was inaugurated recently when the volunteers got together with the management, teachers and students of the Center to officially cut the ribbon. The GE team including Nabil Habayeb, President & CEO, GE Middle East & Africa handed over the keys to the manzil's Director, Dr. Ayesha Husaini, before joining the pupils for a celebratory afternoon tea.

This Early Intervention Center enables manzil's pupils to benefit from a safe-play approach to learning including water play, outdoor art, sand play, imaginary home play and music as educational tools. The exterior of the classroom has been decorated in an ocean theme with bright colours and different marine life to help make learning fun and stimulate pupils.

"We hope the pupils will enjoy their new classroom as much as the GE team enjoyed building it for them. The classroom is a great place to bring learning to life with its bright colours and fun design," said Habayeb.

Since its opening in February 2005, manzil has gone from strength to strength making the student to staff ratio one of the lowest in the region. With more staff, pupils, learning facilities and contributions from volunteers and companies like GE, manzil is on track to achieve its aim of self-sufficiency for its pupils.