In the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan, Barclays Bank PLC announced that it has donated 38 computers to the Dubai Autism Center (DAC) in order to support and facilitate DAC's holistic approach to intervention and therapy. The Barclays IT team volunteered to set up and install the computers to create a dedicated facility for the students and instructors of the Center.

Barclays is committed to investing in the communities in which it operates. In the UAE, corporate responsibility is a core component of the bank's local strategy, in accordance with which, the bank has been actively supporting the local communities through a number of diverse and sustainable initiatives. Barclays' contribution to DAC is one such initiative, undertaken as a step towards educating and improving the lives of children suffering with Autism Spectrum Disorders. 

Andrew Mortimer, Chief Operating Officer of Barclays MENA, said: "In the spirit of giving during the month of Ramadan, our teams have volunteered to install the 38 computers donated to the Dubai Autism Center to ensure that the computer facility is immediately available to both students and instructors. The decision to donate computers stemmed from our desire to promote digital education and new, alternative training methods for children affected by Autism." 

He added: "At Barclays, we believe that corporate responsibility is an important part of our business objectives for the region both at a corporate and employee level. We recognise the necessity of supporting institutions such as the Dubai Autism Center and spreading social awareness about Autism; we consider it our duty to contribute to this community wholeheartedly. We are highly impressed with the Center's dedication to educating children with Autism and helping local authorities in the development of their own specialist services toward Autism across the region".

Hayula Mourad, Business Support and Communication unit head at Dubai Autism Center added: "We would like to thank Barclays for its generous contribution to the Dubai Autism Center. We endeavour to integrate children with Autism into the community through our holistic approach to intervention, therapies, and education. With this brand new computer facility, and the constant community and corporate support extended towards the Center, we are confident we will continue to succeed in our mission".

Dubai Autism Center is a non-profit organization, providing specialized integrated therapies for children with Autism.