Initiative provides jobs to 3,000 young orphans

RIYADH — The Promising Path Initiative (Almsar Alwa3d) that targets sustainable development of young orphans recently organized its first forum under the title "Meeting with Partnership Chances". The gathering combined partners and was attended by Abdul Munim Al-Shehri, assistant deputy minister for special programs at the Ministry of Labor and Social Development. Also in attendance were Prof. Mohammad Al-Zakri, director of the Arab Open University; and Dr. Nasser Al-Qahtani, CEO of the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND) along with private sector representatives. Addressing the participants, Al-Shehri emphasized that the ministry continues to support the initiative with all necessary means in order to achieve its objectives as it focuses on one of the important categories, particularly orphans. Meanwhile, Abdulrahman Al-Zoman, chief executive officer of the Promising Path Initiative, said the forum comes in the framework of partnership with the private sector that shoulders social responsibility toward the society members and categories with dire need. Al-Zoman pointed out that the forum displayed a brief explaining the initiative and its achievements that have been done so far as well as showcased its employment partners who enjoy privileges through making agreements between the Promising Path Initiative and the private sector. During the forum, the chief executive officer highlighted that the concept of initiative stems from a main goal that ensures true realization of sustainable development for orphans and whoever goes under this category. Al-Zoman said the initiative offers promising and exceptional job opportunities to orphans. To pull off best harmonization between orphans in search of jobs and employers’ needs, the signed agreements require providing qualified candidates through leveraging the Almsar Alwa3d programs, Al-Zoman added further. In reference to screening out job seekers, the candidate would go through a five-step process to get hired by an employer, which is supervised by a group of Saudi career education experts and employment consultants, he explained. The Almsar Alwa3d Initiative is also tasked with discovering the potentials of orphans including talents, leaders and entrepreneurs, besides providing unswerving support to them in cooperation with sponsors, ensuring success in their endeavors, Al-Zoman said. Furthermore, the chief executive officer stated that the number of orphans is 1.3 million males and females according to the recent statistics, which makes the initiative attempt to target young ones aged 20-25 years old. Young orphans are estimated to be about 200,000, out of which 50,000 were found in Riyadh alone, he continued. He said: "The initiative mainly aims at supporting 3,000 orphans of both genders in Riyadh, and then it will target orphans across all regions of the Kingdom in the upcoming phase. Almsar Alwa3d Initiative is a non-profit organization that concerns with training, career education and employment for the most needed categories including orphans as they are deprived of proper assistance to the right path.