Sage Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Sage, awarded £25,000 (AED120,787) worth of grants for the Big Give Live, a social impact initiative that provides non-profits with access to human and financial capital at GITEX Technology Week 2018, in Dubai.
The initiative is part of Sage’s efforts to invest in non-profit organisations that help disadvantaged communities reach their true potential through education, entrepreneurship and healthcare.
The first of three participating non-profit organisations in the Big Give Live was The Citizens Foundation, a Pakistan-based network of independently-run schools with an enrolment of 220,000 students, 48 per cent of which are girls. The second was Al Noor Training Centre which operates under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which provides quality care and training for around 200 children with disabilities from 25 different nationalities. Lastly, there was Manzil, which was inaugurated by Sheikha Jameela Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director General of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, catering to students with cognitive disabilities from the age of 4.
The three non-profit organisations presented their visions and goals to an independent panel comprising Oscar Garcia, SVP of Business Marketing at Etisalat, George Hojeige, CEO at Virtuzone, Hans Christensen, VP of Dubai Technology Entrepreneurship Centre and Silicon Oasis Founders, and Lauren Vickery, Director Marketing Africa & Middle East. Joanne van der Walt, Director of Promotions at Sage Foundation facilitated the presentations.
The representatives of the various non-profit organisations told the panel how their organization intends to utilize the donations to make an impact in their respective communities, and their current work. Manzil received the biggest donation of £15,000 (AED72,472). Al Noor Training Centre received a second donation of £7,500 (Dhs36,236), followed by The Citizens Foundation, which received £2,500 (AED12,079).
Hanifa Saleem, mother to one of the beneficiaries, Manzil, said: “Children are a blessing and my children are testament to the incredible work carried out at Manzil. Manzil has supported me a great deal, and because of Manzil my children are now in a position to support me. I am so overwhelmed, I am so happy. I know we are doing great work and the Sage Foundation donation will help us in our efforts. This is the best news ever.”
