Employees of MetLife Gulf recently had the opportunity to participate in several athletic and art activities with Special Olympians in Dubai, as part of its partnership with Special Olympics in the UAE.

The initiative is part of MetLife’s Community Week; an initiative funded by MetLife Foundation, the philanthropic arm of global insurer MetLife.

A total of 33 MetLife volunteers joined 25 Young Athletes for a day filled with activities at Dubai Sports World.

“Young Athletes,” introduced by Special Olympics, is an inclusive sport and play program for children, aged two to seven years old, with and without intellectual disabilities.

To start the day, volunteers teamed up with the Young Athletes to paint and create a collaborative “health” themed canvas. The art element of the activities, which was introduced this year by Special Olympics UAE, was popular with both athletes and volunteers. The second part of the day saw the MetLife volunteers pair up with the Young Athletes to participate in sports activities and obstacle courses aimed at developing the Young Athletes’ motor skills.

This marks the third year of the partnership between MetLife and Special Olympics with the purpose of expanding Special Olympics Young Athletes across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (EMEA). The programme supports the rich tradition of MetLife supporting the communities it operates in and serves.

“We are proud to partner with Special Olympics,” said Dimitris Mazarakis, general manager of MetLife Gulf. “At MetLife, our Community Week is a fantastic opportunity for our employees to give back to the communities in which we live and work.”

Layla Al Hajjaj, Initiatives director at Special Olympics UAE, said: “It’s always a delight to welcome MetLife volunteers during their Community Week activities. It is important to support and empower young people with intellectual disabilities through group activities and involve their families. Year on year, MetLife’s volunteers have shown great support and eagerness to make these events a success.” - TradeArabia News Service