Reinforcing their commitment towards empowering the youth of Oman by supporting educational initiatives and developing employment opportunities, Sohar International extended its support by sponsoring Injaz’s Signature Curriculum for the academic year 2019/2020. The sponsored program aims to empower 1,000 Omanis to the concept of entrepreneurship at an early age and help drive the nation towards a self-sufficient and progressive future.

The sponsorship will support Injaz’s program and competition from the duration of September 2019 to April 2020. The program will be implemented in high schools, universities, and training centres to target young Omanis between 11-25 years of age with workshops on business management, financial planning, marketing and sales and human resources management among other subjects.

Speaking on the the Bank’s support, Mr Ahmed Al Musalmi, CEO, Sohar International said, “This sponsorship comes in line with the bank’s principles of providing more value, more velocity, and more vision by contributing towards the development of Oman’s youth and their entrepreneurial spirit. Injaz Oman has been one of the pioneers in supporting the young and talented Omani youth in developing their entrepreneurial skills and we are glad to sponsor them. The program will provide an excellent platform for students to gain hands-on experience in dealing with real-life challenges as well as equip them with the required knowledge and practical experience to succeed in their respective careers.”

The program is structured to be part of the student’s regular academic curriculum, and will comprise of a mentorship program, where identified employees of Sohar International will volunteer as mentors to conduct the workshops as per the program curriculum. In addition to the mentorship program, the strategic partnership also offers Sohar International with a great opportunity to harness innovation and research skill that will be delivered via this Program. The program also provides a platform for conducting economic and business laboratory to harness onto the untapped creativity and business perception of students. Annually, over 4,000 students across Oman from over 20 universities and colleges benefit from Injaz Oman’s programs. The program also sees participation of over 100 volunteers from the private sector.

Khaula Alharthy, Chief Executive officer of Injaz Oman, said, “I am glad to see Sohar International’s efforts in supporting the future generations of Oman’s entrepreneurs. They have been supporte of Injaz Oman, and are committed towards the development of the nation’s youth through training, mentorship and employment opportunities. We look forward to continue this partnership and help bring more development and prosperity to the youth of this great nation.”

Founded in 2006, INJAZ Oman is a part of “Junior Achievements Worldwide”, one of the world’s largest youth serving non-profit organisations, which is dedicated to economical education. JA Worldwide was founded in 1919, and exists today in over 124 countries and actively engages over 10 million students in its program annually.

By supporting such programs, Sohar International reinforces its belief in investing in the youth of Oman, to help build their confidence to manage future challenges and go forward to develop Oman’s economy to greater heights. Sohar International’s corporate social responsibility program is committed to instil positive socioeconomic change by supporting program and initiatives that make sustainable impact on youth and in the community at large.