Shell extends partnership with Emirates Foundation

ABU DHABI, 27th October, 2015 (WAM) -- Shell has announced the renewal of its annual partnership with Emirates Foundation, reflecting its commitment to the development of the UAE?s youth.

Through the partnership, Shell will be actively supporting the foundation?s various initiatives, particularly in the areas of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, STEM, education, capacity building and community engagement.

The announcement was made at a signing ceremony recently held at the Emirates Foundation offices in Abu Dhabi, attended by Clare Woodcraft Scott, CEO Emirates Foundation, Andrew Vaughan, Shell Vice President for Abu Dhabi and Kuwait and Country Chairman for Shell Abu Dhabi, as well as other officials from both organisations.

Shell?s longstanding partnership with Emirates Foundation, which is in line with the global energy company?s social investment vision, dates back to the Foundation?s inception in 2005 under the guidance of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Under this new strategic alliance, Shell and Emirates Foundation will work together to help promote venture philanthropy for the youth of the UAE and the Middle East as well as to share knowledge, expertise and best practices and networks to support the Foundation?s goals towards delivering social impact.

"Our partnership with Emirates Foundation reflects our steadfast commitment towards the UAE?s youth and their development as future leaders of the country. Moreover, it is designed to support the foundation on its transformational journey towards venture philanthropy to deliver impact-driven social change, which is aligned with Shell?s social investment goals," said Andrew Vaughn.

Shell has supported many of the foundation?s initiatives and programmes offering financial and technical support as well as capacity building expertise for the reorganisation of the foundation and the establishment of its Human Resources systems, as it moves towards a venture philanthropy model.

Clare Woodcraft, CEO Emirates Foundation said, "Partners such as Shell, who truly believe in the value of establishing scalable philanthropic outreach programmes, are key to the success of our foundation. With Shell over the years we have extended our reach across the region and we value Shell?s pro-active approach to building our partnership." One of the Shell-Emirates Foundation partnership key focus areas is STEM education and its role towards the creation of a sustainable economy of the UAE, which also reflects Shell?s global values on innovation and technology and the values the company places on supporting youth development in STEM fields.

Mohanna Al Muhairi, Chief Operating Officer for Emirates Foundation, said, "We are pleased to renew this agreement that has proved to be a very successful model for the effective collaborations between public and private sectors in the country. Over the years, Emirates Foundation has received valuable and significant financial and technical support from shell, which was key to help the foundation deliver on our mission of creating positive and permanent impact on the lives of young people in the UAE." A recent outcome following the signing ceremony is a joint Social Investment Best Practices Workshop scheduled to take place in December this year with participation from Social Investment Professionals in ADNOC and its group of companies.

One of the most prominent joint engagements has been for the Emirates Foundation ?Think Science? Fair. Shell established a global partnership with the Emirates Foundation ?Think Science? Fair last year, which promotes STEM education and careers to children and youth in the UAE, aligned with the nation?s Vision 2021 towards a knowledge-based economy.