JEDDAH: A charity has launched a drive to develop Saudi Arabia’s leaders of tomorrow.
Injaz Saudi Arabia is holding two-day workshops for young people that cover topics including entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness programs.
The program will be delivered to a number of schools for boys and girls at elementary, intermediate and secondary levels.
The workshop, which was held in Park Hyatt on Tuesday and Wednesday, was attended by Ministry of Education representatives, local schools, board members from Injaz-Saudi Arabia and Injaz Al-Arab in Jordan, as well as businessmen and volunteers. The National Commercial Bank worked with Injaz Al-Arab to start the program in Jeddah in 2007.
After two years the organization decided to go further and complete its mission in Saudi Arabia to motivate and prepare young people for success in the Kingdom’s booming economy.
Injaz finally received a permit from the Ministry of Education to implement the program in 12 schools.
“We have invited the principals of the schools that will benefit from the program. For now, the program will be implemented in four elementary, four intermediate and four secondary schools,” said Ola Banaja, an operations officer at Injaz. Through its five programs, Injaz aims to provide mentors for budding young Saudi business leaders to help inspire a culture of entrepreneurialism and business innovation among youths.
Mentors share their experiences with the students, ensuring the learning process is a unique one. The mentors are not teachers. They are experienced employees in the private sector who work voluntarily to inspire young people to attain a better future.
“The Department of Guidance at the Ministry of Education were very cooperative the past two years while we were trying to obtain permits for both men and women,” Banaja said.
Hayat Al-Mutawaa, the Department of Guidance director in Jeddah, believes that Injaz programs are significant and will hopefully be successful.
“In our department we always focus on vocational guidance and the Injaz program is the first to achieve this,” she said. Al-Mutawaa’s deputy Rabab Abuznada said that implementing Injaz programs is a positive step toward preparing future generations.
“We are ready but we need the Ministry of Education’s full support and Injaz’s cooperation,” she said.
Zainab Neyazi, principal at an intermediate government school who attended the workshop, said such programs are needed for those students who wish to develop.
“The girls want something to get their mind off books and their daily routine,” she said.
“We have many talented young girls. If these talents were developed, then we will definitely see creativity.”
The program is still in its early steps for girls’ schools. However, the attendees were excited after a young man shared his experience of participating in an Injaz program.
“He owns a business now while he is only in his early 20s,” said Abuznada, adding that she wants a generation of young girls to benefit and determine their future careers.
Operating in 12 countries across the Middle East and North Africa region, Injaz Al-Arab is a confederation of national operations working with corporate volunteers and education ministries to provide experiential education and training for Arab youths in work readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship.
