JEDDAH: Bab Rizq Jameel (BRJ), an initiative of Abdul Latif Jameel Community Services Programs (ALJCSP), created 3,172 job opportunities in the month of May. Including small and microfinance projects, the opportunities have been created through different BRJ job creation programs with support from the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), the Saudi Credit and Saving Bank and the offices of the Labor Department.

Of these, 167 job opportunities have been created through training ending with employment program. Training courses have been conducted in auto spare parts sales, denting and painting for men, in addition to a course in reception skills specifically designed to fulfill areas of interest for companies. Courses conducted for women included makeup and tailoring. In addition, 658 jobs have been created through direct employment program in coordination with and support from the HRDF.

Abdullah Al-Malki, who has been employed by Al-Hoshan in Riyadh, said he applied to BRJ while looking for a job. After an interview, BRJ coordinated with the human resources officials in Al-Hoshan. They offered him a job after another interview.

Al-Malki signed the contract and started the job this month.

Najd Al-Ghamdi, who has been offered a sales representative job in Traco Corporation for Marbles and Ceramics in Jeddah, says the job is excellent and his monthly income is approximately SR3,000.

The most important job created for the contracted companies were of security guards, sales supervisors and cashiers. The majority of employment requests were received from several companies. Salaries ranged from SR1,800 and SR3,500.

Based on microfinance concept, job coordinators in BRJ branches provided support to 1,838 women through productive household program to start their micro projects. Um Naser Al-Mubaraki from Jazan said she received an interest-free loan from BRJ to start her micro project from home. She prepares and sells makeup products in handmade baskets.

Also during May, BRJ small projects coordinators cooperated with the Saudi Credit and Saving Bank to finance 447 small projects. The average loan is SR40,000 at a five-year payment period for new and existing projects. Finance for certain projects could reach SR150,000. Projects included beauty centers, agricultural and animal raising projects, home appliances, groceries and accessories shops. 244 projects have been financed for women against 203 for men.

Through taxi and truck ownership programs, 62 young Saudi men have joined the programs. Abdul Rahman Al-Qahtani, from Abha, said that BRJ has financed him to purchase a water tanker to deliver water to houses in remote villages.

Abdullah Al Zahrani, BRJ director in the southern region stated that young men and women job seekers warmly welcome job-creation programs in the province. Al-Zahrani added that BRJ will coordinate with all concerned authorities to create more job opportunities for young males and females, and he expressed appreciation for chamber of commerce and branches of the Saudi Credit & Saving Bank for their continuous support to the programs.

Since the beginning of the year 2009, Bab Rizq Jameel has created 15,360 job opportunities out of 38,000, the total target for this year.