corporate social responsibility takes precedence
Dubai Chamber to organize Train the Trainer workshop for companies participating in the “Making it Our Business” fight against breast cancer project this month
The “Making it Our Business” fight against breast cancer project, a social awareness initiative led by Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, is gaining momentum. Launched in collaboration with Vital Voices Global Partnership and the US Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research at the hands of US First Lady Laura Bush last October, the groundbreaking scheme has caught on with many a corporate company in promoting workplace awareness on early detection and treatment of breast cancer.
Encouraged by the overwhelming response to the pilot project by a leading UAE bank that offered breast cancer awareness training for female employees as well as the dissemination of information to customers, the Partnership will expand the program with the help of a Train the Trainer (TOT) workshop this month with representatives from each of the 11 charter companies, that include Dubai Holding, Emaar Properties, Dubai World, Al Tayer Group, BurJuman/Al Ghurair Group, Eisa Saleh Al Gurg Group, General Electric, General Motors, Johnson & Johnson, Federal Express and Microsoft ME.
Said Nuha Safar, Executive Director, Corporate Communications and External Relations, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, “In line with our mission of supporting all Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, the breast cancer awareness project was launched at Dubai Chamber to spread the awareness and knowledge of fighting this most dreaded disease among our members, especially the business women and the female staff of member companies. The TOT workshop is the first step in the follow-up to this social marketing program that is aimed at gaining customer loyalty
and market share for all participating companies that will see many more
such events in the future.”
Under the plan, the first group of employee-trainers from the Charter Companies will participate in a day-and-a-half session during the week of February 24, led by Susan Brown Director, Health Education for
Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation and supported by the Vital Voices local program coordinator. This Train the Trainer workshop will empower them with cutting-edge information on breast cancer, its early detection, treatment and a more comprehensive understanding of the disease. The participants will then present this know-how to their colleagues thus utilizing the information tools created by Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation and ICF International.
The employee-trainers will commit to further program objectives of raising
workplace awareness on the issue of breast cancer through in-company two
hour workshops.
A briefing session for the participating companies that came on the heels of First Lady Laura Bush’s visit to Dubai was hosted by the Dubai Chamber recently at its premises where Erin Walsh, senior advisor at the Bureau of Near East Affairs of US State Department gave details of the program and shared her innovative ideas of ‘customizing’ the program with the representatives of the companies.
Said Erin Walsh, “The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for bringing together expertise and resources of some of the leading private sector companies with the experience of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, Dubai Chamber and Vital Voices. Together, we can make a huge impact on the lives of women and families not only in the corporate community, but in communities at large. We are committed to the urgent mission of eliminating breast cancer as one of the leading causes of death for women worldwide. Dubai, through this partnership, will build a role model for the region.”
