Cisco’s Giving Back Week supports local charities and connects the community

From 1^st-5^th May 2011 Cisco employees took part in Giving Back Week, to support local charities within the UAE. By holding fund-raising initiatives, donating their time and increasing awareness, Cisco gave back to the local community.

Throughout the week, Cisco worked with and supported a diverse spectrum of charities including; Al Noor Children’s Centre, Dubai Center for Special Needs, Feline Friends, K9 Friends and Emirates Environment Agency.

Supporting Cisco’s Corporate Social Responsibility vision, Giving Back Week is an important week in the Cisco calendar, as employees invest time to enrich and support the community in which they work.

Al Noor Children’s Center: Cisco’s sporting volunteers played cricket with 25 children, enjoyed lunch with them after the game and presented them with goodie bags.

Feline Friends: Cisco provided the center with unwanted books and DVDs to be sold as a fundraiser.

Dubai Center for Special Needs: Employees embraced their artistic side, participating in a half-day interactive art workshop. alongside 127 children with special needs

Office Recycling Drive: Helping to reduce its environmental impact, Cisco placed recycling bins on all floors of the Dubai office to reduce, recycle and reuse plastic, paper, glass and metal.

Community Charity Organization’s Exhibition and Contribution: Showcasing local charities in the Cisco Dubai office, volunteers sold goods on behalf of the charities in order to raise much needed funds and strengthen awareness.

Wayne Hull, director and general manager, Cisco, UAE: “Giving back to the community is one of Cisco’s founding principles and our Giving Back Week enables the entire UAE community to connect and make a difference. We believe that volunteering is an important way for Cisco employees to build ties with the communities in which they work in and we’re proud that Cisco can leverage the network as a platform to better the world.”