As part of its efforts to support and promote the UAE’s Month of Reading and #Year of Giving initiatives, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expanded its activities under the national framework to its representative offices in Mozambique and Ethiopia.

The Chamber recently donated educational materials, including stationary, pencils, pens, books and workbooks, to underprivileged schools in Mozambique and Ethiopia, benefitting more than 1,750 children.

The Chamber’s Maputo and Addis Ababa teams also gave a brief overview on the Month of Reading, the Year of Giving, and the various charitable initiatives it has supported throughout the UAE and abroad.

The initiative comes as Dubai Chamber expands its presence within Africa, following the opening of its offices in Maputo and Nairobi last year. The move is also part of a wider strategy to expand the role of the Chamber’s international offices to support various social causes in the countries where it operates.

Commenting on the initiative, Omar Khan, Director of International Offices at the Dubai Chamber, said, "Reading is one of the most important skills that supports children’s development, enabling them to learn about the world and broaden their horizons. By launching this important initiative, we aim to help foster a reading culture within societies and bring invaluable benefits to hundreds of children in Mozambique and Ethiopia."

President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan declared 2017 as the Year of Giving in the UAE. The initiative focuses on three main themes, namely enhancing social responsibility in the private sector, building a culture of volunteerism across all segments of society, and promoting the concept of serving the nation among youth.