Doha, Qatar, 22 March 2015: As a part of its corporate social responsibility programme, ORYX GTL announced during the Definitely Able Conference that it will donate 10 custom made specially equipped busses to Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs. The vehicles will enable transportation at high standards of safety and comfort for students with disabilities from their homes to school and return.
The donation was announced following a session on education for disabled people titled ‘Ensuring Access and Engagement for all’ at the Definitely Able Conference, an initiative of Sasol and the British Council in partnership with Qatar Museums under the patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums.
The 10 modern busses that will facilitate the access to education for students with disabilities are specially designed to accommodate wheel chairs and people with special needs.
Commenting on the donation, Mr. Abdulrahman Al Suwaidi, CEO of ORYX GTL said: “We are pleased to provide these busses as a gesture of solidarity and support to Shafallah and the people they serve. Through facilitating mobility we hope to offer better access to education opportunities for disabled students in Qatar. Further, we are proud to be supporters of the Definitely Able Conference, designed to raise awareness and to promote social acceptance and inclusion for people with disabilities. Our success in the past years is not limited to gaining profit, but it extends to serving the society. We do not miss any chance to carry out this role which we consider a duty towards this nation, offering our support for building a generation that will lead us to achieving Qatar’s National Vision 2030.”
ORYX GTL’s cooperation with the educational sector is a long-term commitment, this donation being one of the many initiatives supporting educational and social programs that benefit the community. During the past few years ORYX GTL has cooperated with public and private schools as well as higher education institutes such as the College of North Atlantic, Qatar University and Awsaj Academy, a member of the Qatar Foundation, to reward the highest achieving graduates and to provide sponsorship and internship opportunities to outstanding students.
Mr. Mohammed Al-Sada, General Manager of the Shafallah Center, said: “We thank ORYX GTL for responding to our need. These ten busses are much more than transportation – they will significantly improve the ability of our students to safely and comfortably reach the Shafallah Center from their homes. Removing barriers to access education and essential services for the disabled is a critical factor in creating a more inclusive society, one of the aims of the Shafallah Center and of this Definitely Able Conference.”
Since its opening in 1999, the Shafallah Center, a non-profit organisation started at the behest of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, provided comprehensive educational, medical, social, vocational and recreational services for hundreds of disabled children and students with special needs.
ORYX GTL is a supporting partner of the Definitely Able Conference and ILHAM Art Exhibition that aims to challenge the perception about disability and to build a more inclusive community which provides equal opportunities for people of all talents. The Conference took place on 18 and 19 March and the ILHAM Exhibition is open to public between 18-27 March at the Museum of Islamic Art.
ORYX GTL is a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum (51%) and the South African company Sasol (49%), and is designed to produce ultra-clean GTL fuels including nearly sulphur-free diesel, naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for the global market.