Jobs have been created through BRJ’s diversified job creation programs, which include training ending with employment, direct employment, taxi ownership, truck ownership, small project finance, productive household, work from home and franchise programs.

BRJ, an affiliate of Abdul Latif Jameel Community Services Programs (ALJCSP), said over the weekend that it succeeded in providing some of the jobs in February under its direct employment and small projects finance programs in February with the cooperation of Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) and Saudi Credit & Saving Bank (SCSB).

During the month, the direct employment program helped creating 189 jobs, with support in some cases from the HRDF. The program matches job seekers directly to vacancies in the job market. Direct employment is achieved by analyzing job opportunities available with private companies or establishments, which send their vacancies to BRJ centers around the Kingdom specifying the qualifications required for the jobs. The program created 143 jobs for men and 46 jobs for women.

Among the most important jobs created for young men through this program were central telephone operators, security guards, sales representatives, cashiers and goods arrangers, with monthly salaries ranging from SR2,500 to SR4,500.

For women, jobs created included were for sales representatives, receptionists, tailors and public relations personnel. Through the program, 132 jobs have been created, of which 118 were for males and 14 for females.

Also during the month, BRJ financed 387 small projects, whether new or existing, which in turn would provide additional job opportunities. An interest-free loan of SR50,000 is made available to such projects. The projects financed related to beauty salons, laundries, distribution of electronics products, confectioneries and pastries, women’s accessories, weddings business, and distribution of mobile phones and computers. Loans for such projects could go up to a maximum of SR150,000 over a five-year repayment period.

Based on Grameen Bank’s micro finance concept, the Productive Household program during the month provided support to 1,564 women throughout the Kingdom to start their micro projects, such as handmade goods, perfumes and perfume mixtures, confectioneries and other home-based services. Under this program, beneficiaries receive interest-free loans from SR1,000 to SR5,000.

During the month, the BRJ’s taxi ownership program provided 19 vehicles for young Saudi men. The program allows them to work as drivers and use their fully equipped taxis to transport people, and pay easy installments over a four-year period at the end of which they become vehicle owners. T

hrough the truck ownership program during the month, 59 trucks were provided for young Saudi men who can work as drivers and use their trucks to transport goods, vegetables, equipment and passengers.

In addition, training opportunities have been provided through Nafisa Shams Academy for Arts and Crafts, a program of BRJ, for 113 women trainees in diversified areas. Also, jobs have been created for 81 women through the Work from Home program, which is supervised by Nafisa Academy. Through this program, approximately 2,200 prayer rugs are produced monthly and sold to Toyota and Lexus.

Internationally, BRJ Egypt created 581 job opportunities and BRJ Syria 354 more during the month.

Mohammed Jameel, chief job creation officer at BRJ, said ALJCSP, since its inception successfully created 118,340 job opportunities by February end. Jameel added that the driving force for this achievement was the support from official and other agencies, specifically HRDF and the SCSB, in addition to the more than 400 male and female job creation officers, as well as the successes of the beneficiaries. According to Jameel, the target for 2010 is to create 46,000 job opportunities and open new BRJ branches Kingdomwide.