26 Sep 2017
MANAMA, BAHRAIN – 26 September 2017 – Ithmaar Bank, a Bahrain-based Islamic retail bank, hosted a series of summer camps for children of various age groups in cooperation with INJAZ Bahrain, a non-profit organization that aims to empower young people to own their economic success. As part of the summer camp programme, a first of its kind for financial institutions in Bahrain, children of Ithmaar Bank employees spent a full day during summer at the Bank participating in various activities designed to help them gain practical financial knowledge.
The events, which were hosted by the Ithmaar Bank Human Resources Department at the Bank’s headquarters in Seef, were delivered by volunteers from Ithmaar Bank, including Eman Abdulwadood Al Awadhi, Eman Mahmood Abdulla, Muhja Abdulrazaq Fulath, Ammar Mohammed Abdulrahman, Sayed Ali Adel Salman and Ali Hassan Mahmood with the support of the Bank’s Human Resources team.
The first group consisted of 13 children from Grades 1 to 3 who participated in the “Our Selves” programme, a financial knowledge programme that demonstrates helping, working, earning and savings concepts by using compelling stories read by Ithmaar Bank volunteers as well as hands on activities. The second group consisted of 10 children from Grades 3 to 4 who participated in the “Our Families” programme, which was designed to emphasize the roles people play in the local economy and engaged students with activities about needs, wants, jobs, tools, skills and interdependence so that they discover that society and the economy depend on people working together. The third group consisted of 11 children from Grades 5 to 6 who participated in the “Our Nation” programme that provides practical information about businesses’ need for employees who can meet the demands of the job market. The programme also introduced the concept of globalization, as it relates to resources and careers, and the need for students to be entrepreneurial in their thinking to meet the requirements of business worldwide. The fourth and oldest group consisted of eight children from Grades 7 to 9 who participated in the “It’s My Business” programme that emphasized entrepreneurship skills while providing a strong focus on social studies, reading, and writing skills. Participants are encouraged to use critical thinking to learn entrepreneurial skills that support positive attitudes as they explore and enhance their career aspirations.
“As a pioneering Islamic retail bank, we recognise the important role we must play in supporting our community,” said Ithmaar Bank Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Abdul Rahim. “It is a responsibility we take very seriously, and we are pleased to be able to continue our long-standing support for INJAZ Bahrain and its various youth-focused initiatives,” he said.
“This unique initiative, allowed us to open our doors for children to participate in an exciting new programme designed to help them learn real-world skills and experience, for themselves, the working environment,” said Abdul Rahim. “We are confident that these programmes will go long way towards nurturing Bahrain’s future banking and finance professionals which, in turn, will help further reinforce the Kingdom’s position as a key regional banking and finance hub,” he said.
“This first of it is kind initiative was designed especially to offer children the opportunity to experience the real-life working environment in the financial sector,” said Ithmaar Bank Head of Human Resources Enas Rahimi. “At Ithmaar Bank, we encourage our employees to participate in voluntary programmes such INJAZ Bahrain as it has positive impact both on the community and on the individuals,” she said.
“The Bank is proud to be associated with INJAZ Bahrain for more than ten years as part of its award-winning corporate social responsibility programme, and we are pleased to note that our efforts are paying off,” said Rahimi. “We are pleased to be the first financial institution to host the Summer Camp Programme in association with INJAZ Bahrain, and we look forward a continuing our long-standing relationship,” she said.
Ithmaar Bank employees volunteer every year in the INJAZ Bahrain school programme. This year the programme, which started in July and continued until the end of August, was organised at Ithmaar Bank.
INJAZ Bahrain is a non-profit organization that was established in 2005 as part of Junior Achievement Worldwide with the aim of empowering young people to own their economic success and be prepared for today’s business challenges. With the help of its partners and volunteers, INJAZ Bahrain impacts thousands of students every year bringing them closer to the real world and opening their minds to their own potential.
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