JEDDAH: Arab News Editor in Chief Khaled Almaeena made good on Wednesday the promise to sponsor four students for a second English course at the British Council.
The students, chosen by their teachers for their aptitude, keenness and progress during the first course, which was offered by the British Council free as a Ramadan goodwill gesture to the community.
“We are an English-language Arab newspaper and that very fact demonstrates the value of being able to communicate in what has become a language that has worldwide currency,” said Almaeena at the ceremony where the check was handed over to Marcus Gilbert, director of the British Council in Jeddah.
The four students — Asrar Mohammed, Ashwag Al Zahrani, Nawal Ahmad and Zara Ahmed — said they truly benefited from the British Council’s course and look forward to continuing their education.
“English is at the core of everything we do and when the idea was put to us to sponsor these young ladies we jumped at it as an opportunity both to include it in our corporate responsibility program and to encourage the development of these four keen young women,” Almaeena said.
He noted that Arab News was proud to have the first woman managing editor, Somayya Jabarti, of a national newspaper in the Arab world and a large team of talented young women. “I would like to think that one day, perhaps one or more of these young women will join us,” Almaeena said.
When asked why the newspaper chose to sponsor an English-language course, he said that it was very important to understand what people outside the country write about the Kingdom.
“We need to be able to do that and, equally, to project our own viewpoints to them in a language they will understand,” he said.
Gilbert said that the Arab News sponsorship was valuable. “We are delighted that the newspaper became involved,” he said.
