500 women empowered to take part in Saudi development

The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry is working on a key strategic goal to spread the culture of social responsibility and community service. (AN photo)

JEDDAH: The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) signed an agreement with Nafisa Shams Academy for the rehabilitation of 500 retired, elderly and special needs women to work from home and be part of the Kingdom’s economy.
The JCCI and Nafisa Shams Academy agreed on providing courses and workshops that will help these women earn a living through handcrafts and creative work to empower them and to enhance their role in the development of the Kingdom.
The agreement was signed between acting Secretary General Hassan bin Ibrahim Dahlan and the Director General of Nafisa Shams Academy May Omar Abdullah Taibah, in the presence of Dr. Faisal Abdel Kader, head of the Corporate Social Responsibility Center (CSR) - Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and a number of executives from both sides.
Taibah explained to Arab News that they signed agreements for three categories of women by giving them training to have their own businesses; the elderly, retired women and women with special needs, especially with Down’s syndrome, so that they can work from home and be part of the country’s economic development; and for girls from age 15 above by training them to become entrepreneurs.
She also explained that they are targeting almost 300 elderly women and 200 women with special needs, and the agreements will help and support building sustainable development.
The agreement was signed in order to promote and activate the role of women through a variety of mechanisms that will be implemented throughout the whole year, including the establishment and exchange of workshops, seminars, conferences and sharing of experiences.
She also indicated that with the help of JCCI, they will get a chance to learn through others’ experiences and their qualification level will increase.
Hassan Dahlan said that the JCCI is working on a key strategic goal to spread the culture of social responsibility and community service in all categories, including for retired and older women, and women with special needs.
He said through this project and initiative offered by the CSR Center, will help in supporting Saudi women to achieve the objectives of the National Transformation Program for 2020 and Vision 2030.
Dahlan said that the JCCI will provide information pertaining to the needs of the labor market through various special programs and appropriate training, which will qualify Saudi women, and contribute to increasing the chances of employment and their replacement of foreign labor.
JCCI will communicate with companies to support localization and to provide a business incubator program, which will support social entrepreneurship through marketing and official channels, and spread awareness on its importance.