Leading youth on transparent path

The Saafa Foundation for Social Responsibility and Integrity (SFSRI), an NGO working to promote transparency and combat corruption in the workplace, has partnered with a number of Makkah youth organizations and major corporations to provide training programs and other initiatives to prepare young Saudi men and women to enter the workplace, aware that corruption and a lack of transparency work against society.
Saudi Telecom (STC), the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) and Nesma Company representatives met with SFSRI and Arab News Editor in Chief Abdulwahab Al-Faiz on Friday to pledge their commitment to the social responsibility effort.
Representing Nesma was Thamer Shaker, head of human resources. He stated that Nesma supported the anti-corruption and transparency effort and will continue to train Saudi youth.
“The SFSRI program drew my attention as it benefits Saudi youth who are always looking for mentors,” Shaker said. “The opportunity exists now to teach young men and women about transparency and fighting corruption. This gives us all great hope for the future.
“Our vision is to enable the individual to be a proper and productive member of society and employee, regardless of where they are employed, enhancing the quality of the individual. Members of Nesma’s staff will be sent abroad to learn about transparency and combatting corruption without requiring from them a commitment to return to Nesma. This is our way of investing in youth who are the future of our country regardless of where they are employed.”
During Friday’s round table discussion a number of young Saudi men and women from the Makkah region pledged their time and collective efforts to work with SFSRI. The seven young men and women who form the SFSRI Youth Founding Committee include Thamer Adnan Shaker, Rayan Mustafa Saman, Mohammed Al-Bakri, Abdullah Shahwan Al-Malki, Sarah Abdullah Bughdadi, Waleed Al-Felemban and Musab Faleh Al-Harbi.
Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman, chairman of the foundation's board of directors, who drove nine hours from Riyadh to chair the discussion, expressed his gratitude to all who attended.
“To partner up with such major corporations and the young men and women of Makkah to work toward achieving the goals of the foundation is indeed exciting,” Prince Turki said.
“The efforts of all involved will surely work toward promoting transparency and combatting corruption in the Kingdom.
“We will hold symposiums, courses and lectures involving society members and including the ministries of education and higher education and we will cooperate with those who want to achieve integrity.”
He said the organization is not going to scrutinize others "nor do we have the authority to force government and private bodies to apply for the Good Example prize.”
The organization aims to do its task through awarding government and private entities that progressed to a certain level of transparency and integrity and that would make them ideal role models.
When ethics are applied in dealings the dealings are protected and security provided. Applying the principles of integrity, justice, accountability and transparency create a general sense of security and trust.