Deutsche Bank's Middle East Foundation announced today its partnership with Save the Children by supporting its Animate-It Workshops project in United Arab Emirates and the Food Vouchers System Initiative in Yemen.

Animation is a peaceful method for children to tell their stories especially for those who lack the ability to express their feelings, hence the Animate-It Workshops Project has been initiated in theUAE to help Emirati children express their hopes and dreams.

The objective of this project is to raise the capacity and skill of local charity organizations to successfully and independently train UAE children on producing animated movies to foster their talents and connect them to youth internationally. 

In addition, Deutsche Bank's Middle East Foundation will be supporting Save the Children's Food Vouchers System Initiative in Yemen to address the food crisis and the growing nutrition emergency in the country.

The Vouchers, which can be used at food markets, allow poor families in Yemen to have access to essential food that they can choose according to their needs. The idea is to help these families, as well as to bring business to the local shops.

Commenting on the partnership, Philippe Vollot, Chairman of Deutsche Bank's Middle East Foundation and the Bank's regional Chief Operating Officer, said, "We are really delighted that we have established this partnership with Save the Children through our Middle East Foundation. In Deutsche Bank we are fully committed to improve the lives of disadvantage children and pave the way to a better future for communities." 

Soha Ellaithy, Director of Gulf Partnership at Save the Children, said, "Today, 45% of households in Yemen live below the poverty line and nearly 10 million people do not have access to sufficient and nutritious food. We have been implementing the Vouchers System in Yemen since 2011 and have helped 1,400 families to date. Also, to offer children opportunities for discovery, positive creativity and development, art is a powerful tool for healing and education. Save the Children has a long record of using animation as a tool to educate children around the world. We are grateful for the generous support of Deutsche Bank's Middle East Foundation for these two important projects." 

Save the Children, established in 1919, is the world's leading independent organization for children. Their vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. Their mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. 

Established in 2008, Deutsche Bank's Middle East Foundation is one of the Bank's many foundations around the globe across Asia, Africa and the Americas. In addition, Deutsche Bank has active Corporate Social Responsibility programmes across Europe and the UK.

Deutsche Bank's Middle East Foundation focuses on funding investments in arts, education, community development, sustainability, and volunteering in the Middle East North Africa region.