JEDDAH, 24 January 2006 — Increasing numbers of companies are taking on a more active role in developing their community not only through donations — as has been the tradition for decades — but also through short and long-term programs that go to the core of building and improving the community. Savola Group, one of the biggest companies in Saudi Arabia, recently signed an agreement with King Abdul Aziz University launching their program “Learning Through Community Service.”
Last week, the company’s managing director, Dr. Abdul Rauf Mannaa, met with Dr. Samar Al-Saggaf, dean of the girls’ section of the university, and a group of female students to discuss the steps and mechanisms for executing the program.
Each student presented her idea for a research project she needs to carry out as part of her course requirement. “The meeting was important to define the ways Savola Group can assist the students conduct their research,” said Dr. Mannaa.
The projects were evaluated academically by the university to meet certain standards and benchmarks set by the company.
Dr. Al-Saggaf, on her part, said that such programs were models for how the private sector can play a role in supporting higher education institutions. Last year, one of the projects selected was for Savola’s website design and groups of female students competed for the three top positions.
“Learning Through Community Service” is one of the programs under Savola’s Corporate Social Responsibility department which was established in July 2004. “The Learning Through Community Service program is part of Savola’s “Bridges” program that aims at cooperating with various educational and social institutions to implement educational and awareness programs such as health and the environment,” said Mazin Ridwan, director of CSR department. This program focuses on learning, training and employment whereupon Savola supports research projects, training programs and provide employment opportunities.
“We began last year with the computer science department and this year we wanted to expand and support other departments such as linguistics, arts administration and economy. For example we have documents that need translation as a project, or an office decoration project, and others depending on what we want and what they need,” Ridwan said.
Savola also gives the department financial support to be used for its development. Among them are programs for supporting owners of small establishments, new graduates and those with special needs to give them skills so that they can all be independent and productive individuals.
“For people with special needs, we not only polish their skills to help them be a productive individual but also support employing them or finding them jobs. We have an agreement now with the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry to establish an office there to receive applications by people with special needs and to make a database for the kinds of training and employment opportunities available for them to match them with,” Ridwan told Arab News.
Savola is supporting training programs at the Disabled Children Association, Jeddah Institute for Speech and Hearing and Ibsar (Vision) Society.
In addition to Savola Bridges, which are external programs, there is Savola Pledges for the company’s internal relations with its staff, clients, investors and suppliers.
“These are new initiatives and approaches in corporate social responsibility by Savola that goes beyond donations and it includes programs both inside and outside the company,” said Ridwan.
