Dubai Bank said it has signed an MoU with the Community Development Authority (CDA) to focus on integrating individuals with disabilities into mainstream society as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.

The agreement is in line with the bank's commitment to support educational causes through its CSR activities, the Dubai Bank said in a statement.

Under the terms of the MoU, Dubai Bank will work jointly with the CDA to integrate people with disabilities into mainstream society. The first step in achieving this goal is a series of training workshops for Dubai Bank employees and customers, designed to raise awareness of the unique needs of this section of the community, said a top official.

'The MoU with CDA emphasises our commitment to serve the local community. We are very pleased to partner with CDA and look forward to supporting social development activities in Dubai,” said Salam Al Shaksy, chief executive officer of Dubai Bank.

“We strongly believe that education plays an integral role in raising awareness and building integrated, supportive societies. With activities such as the upcoming educational workshops, we also hope to enhance the reach and benefits of our overarching corporate social responsibility programme,” he noted.

Khaled Al Kamda, director-general of the CDA, said the agreement is in line with the its social service programmes, which support the integration of marginalised groups in the society.

'CDA works with the disadvantaged groups in two ways: first, tackling the stereotypical view towards people with special needs, and second, providing them with special facilities that suit their needs. There is no doubt that raising awareness and sensitivity towards those with disabilities is a key factor in achieving progress in this area,' he added.

At the Dubai Bank workshop, participants will work with experienced trainers from CDA to understand the different types of disabilities. They will also be encouraged to learn key skills required in assisting these individuals to be more integrated into mainstream society.

Established in 2008 CDA is a governmental Authority based in Dubai that is responsible for developing frameworks for social development, set to play a significant role in achieving the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015.

The authority also cooperates with the Ministry of Social Affairs and other government bodies in supporting sustainable social development and economic growth.-TradeArabia News Service