JEDDAH, 19 August 2004 — ALJ Programs for Community Service recently organized four workshops for women to develop their entrepreneurship skills and ability to manage charitable organizations. It also created 1,000 new jobs for young Saudi trainees.
“The first workshop was organized in Jeddah under the theme ‘How to establish your own project’. It was attended by 30 women representing 21 charitable organizations,” a press statement issued by the organization said.
The remaining three workshops focusing on “activating the role of women in charitable organizations” were held in Hail, Jeddah and Qasim with the participation of 58 women. The workshops were organized in collaboration with the UN Economic and Social Committee for West Asia.
The ALJ Programs are supported by three funds: ALJ Fund for Vocational Training and Development, ALJ Fund for Management and Leadership Development, and ALJ Fund for Support of Small Businesses.
“We have a long-term target to create 10,000 job opportunities by the end of 2008,” said Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, chairman of ALJ Programs for Community Service. He expressed delight over the organization’s achievements in a short span.
The organization carried out 23 vocational training programs for both young men and women in Jeddah, Riyadh, Makkah, Alkhobar, Dammam and Jizan. They included those held for women to obtain jobs in beauty parlors.
The total number of trainees reached 269 this year with women accounting for 40.5 percent.
ALJ Fund for Vocational Training and Development currently helps some 65 companies implement their Saudization plan.
The ALJ Fund for Support of Small Businesses approved 15 projects from a total of 169 projects submitted from various parts of the Kingdom this year, the statement said.
The organization distributed 186 Toyota Camry cars among young Saudi applicants in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam under the taxi ownership program and 29 trucks in Hail and Taif under a similar program.
ALJ-Grameen for Productive Families, which opened its first branch in Hindawiya, south Jeddah, has provided soft loans for the establishment of commercial, industrial and service projects, the statement said, adding that 80 percent of the beneficiaries were women.
The organization donated SR2 million to King Abdul Aziz Foundation for the Gifted, two fully equipped ambulances to Saudi Red Crescent Society and two 4WD Land Cruisers to the Health Ministry. Special programs were organized for orphans and families of prisoners.
