CSR in Action Newsletter 2011

2011

Newsletter

In partnership with With the support of

FEBRUARY 8, 2012

EMIRATI WOMAN PROVES HERSELF AS AN ACTIVE CSR PRACTITIONER

CSR in Action brought together 25 UAE national participants, fifteen from various private sector and government organizations including TECOM, DU, and Standard Chartered Bank, and ten university students who joined to learn more about CSR. During the program, the participants received training on the fundamental principles of CSR, and then were divided into teams and given the task of designing and implementing micro CSR projects.

Once the training was completed, the teams designed and presented CSR projects to a distinguished judging panel to choose the best project.

The winning initiative was “the Emirati Experience,” which aims to develop a sustainable rural tourism sector in the UAE. The first place team won a trip to the United States to learn more about CSR best practices through a generous contribution from Microsoft. Other initiatives included a project

to educate youth about recycling, “Mentoring Emiratees” which seeks to link successful Emiratis in the public and private sectors with young professional UAE nationals, and a program to create a centralized website compiling all available services for people with special needs in the Emirates. All of the participants plan to continue working on their projects, and are looking for donors or companies that may be interested in adopting their initiatives.

The next stepBuilding on the success of the first CSR in Action program, CSR al Ahli Holding Group signed an agreement with Ecole Superieure des Affaires: One of the leading business education and training instiutes in Lebanon, to move this new ambitious initiative to Lebanon.

www.csralahligroup.com

FEBRUARY 8, 2012

CSR IN ACTION CELEBRATES ITS SUCCESS IN DURING THE CLOSING CEREMONYU.S. Ambassador to the UAE Michael H. Corbin and CEO of Al Ahli Holding Group Mr. Mohammed Khammas provided remarks at the closing ceremony of the “Corporate Social Responsibility in Action” grant, congratulating participants on a successful project. The celebration took place at the Dubai Marina Yacht Club with academics, government and private sector representatives in attendance.

Participants began the program in October 2011 through an intense 10-day workshop on the fundamentals of corporate social responsibility. The program brought together 25 UAE national participants, fifteen from various private sector and government organizations including TECOM, DU, and Standard Chartered Bank, and ten university students who joined to learn more about CSR. During the program, the participants received training on the fundamental principles

of CSR, and then were divided into teams and given the task of designing and implementing micro CSR projects.

Ambassador Corbin discussed the new projects with each of the participants, and highlighted the high-level interest of the United States, and President Obama in particular, in promoting entrepreneurship.


JANUARY 20, 2012

CSR IN ACTION GIVES BIRTH TO FIVE NEW AMBITIOUS INITIATIVES

After receiving the necessary training and direction, five working teams were formed. Each team consisted of three or four participants and started working on creating a new CSR initiative that will help contribute back to the Emirati Society.

• Mentoring Emiratis: ‘Mentoring Emiratis’ is a Mentorship Program whereby younger Emirati Nationals, either students or first year employees, are assigned Mentors from Senior National Emiratis to offer support, guidance and knowledge.

• Akilna: ‘Akilna’ is an initiative that promotes sustainable food in the UAE. Its aim is to impact the economic, environmental and health aspects of society whilst providing a sustainable approach to increase local market share of local produce.

• Emirati Experience -BUKSHA-: ‘Emirati Experience’ is about providing an additional source of income to the Emirati low-income families living in rural areas of the UAE though sustainable tourism.

• Special Needs Map: ‘Special Needs Map’ is website offering a service to people with Special Needs, to find the different services and facilities made available for people with special needs I the UAE. It serves as a guide that provides information regarding centers; clubs and facilities that serve people who special needs to make it easier for them to find what they seek.

• Green Hands: ‘Green Hands’ provides education services for 6- 8 years old school children in the UAE that tells and shows in a fun, interactive and memorable way how to prepare and safely dispose daily waste for recycling.


JANUARY 10, 2012

CSR IN ACTION PARTICIPANTS VISIT THE CONSULATE GENERAL

Participants from “CSR in Action” met with representatives from the U.S. Embassy and Consulate to discuss the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives they developed following training in Fall 2011 consisting of intensive lectures, workshops and mentoring on new trends and best practices in CSR.

The participants carried out pilot projects of their initiatives, which focus on areas such as promoting sustainable tourism in rural areas in the UAE, teaching youth about recycling practices, and developing a centralized website listing all services for persons with special needs in the Emirates. The projects will be judged and the winner for best new initiative will be announced February 8 at a closing ceremony in Dubai.

The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), a program of the U.S. Department of State, has the mission to create vibrant partnerships between America and the citizens of the Middle East and North Africa to empower them to build more pluralistic, participatory, and prosperous societies throughout the region.


NOVEMBER 1, 2011

CSR IN ACTION WORKSHOPS CONTINUE

Over 10 days, participants have undergone trainings and workshops on more than 10 different topics to help the participants jump create their own CSR Project.

The training covered topics such as: Understanding the CSR Concept, Fundraising Techniques, Project Management, Presentation skills, Public and Media Communication, Creativity, CSR and Social Media, CSR Reporting and a showcase of 7 case Studies


OCTOBER 26, 2011

STANTON CHASE INTERNATIONAL HOSTS A BUSINESS BREAKFAST DURING CSR IN ACTION.Stanton Chase International and Al Ahli Holding Group (CSR Division), within the context of the project “CSR in Action”, in partnership with the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), organized a Business Breakfast on the Wednesday, the 26th of October 2011, at the Signature Dining Room of Capital Club at the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC). The networking event gathered the program participants with 100 CEOs of the UAE business community.

The Business Breakfast focused on Sustainability opportunities and challenges, and opened the floor to an exchange of best

practices and thoughts among representatives from the private sector and the governmental sector, international and local community, in order identify ways that sustainability can turn into a profit catalyst.

A special guest flew from UK to speak during this event. Mr. John Knell who is widely regarded as one of the UK’s leading thinkers on the changing face of work and organizations, shared his thoughts and experience with the audience answering their questions and guiding them through their ideas.


OCTOBER 23, 2011

UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF H.H. SHEIKH JUMA BIN MAKTOUM AL MAKTOUM, AL AHLI HOLDING GROUP LAUNCHES "CSR IN ACTION" IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MEPIUAE-based Al Ahli Holding Group's Corporate Social Responsibility division and in partnership with the U.S. Department of State's Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and with the support of Microsoft, Stanton Chase International and entourage, launched the new initiative, "CSR in Action".

Speaking about this initiative and the partnerships, Mr. Mohamed Khammas, CEO of Al Ahli Group said: “it’s important that we join hands with Governments, NGOs and the different educational and training institutions to focus on CSR education in the country, and try to find a common ground for the different CSR approaches driven by each sector.”

And about their vision behind this initiative, Mr. Nathan Carter, Director of the Gulf Regional Office for the Middle East Partnership Initiative said, “MEPI is excited to be working with Al Ahli to bring together established Corporate Social Responsibility practitioners and Emirati students to train the next generation of CSR leaders and to develop innovative and new CSR initiatives.”

The 10 days programme brought together 25 participants (15 CSR practitioners and 10 students). It takes place during business working hours and was held in two stages: The first stage was a seven days workshop where participants received training related to the underlying principles of CSR, While the second stage was a three day interactive training programme in which participants were divided into teams and given the task of designing and implementing micro CSR projects.


JULY 1, 2011

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S MIDDLE EAST PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE (MEPI) PARTNERS WITH CSR AL AHLI HOLDING GROUP

Mr. Mohammed Khammas CEO Al Ahli Holding Group and Mr. Mr. Nathan Carter, Director of the Gulf Regional Office for the Middle East Partnership Initiative representing both parties.

As per the agreement, CSR Al Ahli Holding Group will implement a MEPI local grant project that will strengthen the capacity building of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practitioners in the UAE that will develop corporate CSR divisions in the UAE to be more responsive to community needs. In addition, the grant will raise awareness among Emirati university students and CSR practitioners on how to increase civic engagement using best practices and models. Emirati students and Emirati

CSR practitioners will attend workshops that will increase their knowledge on CSR models and practices in the UAE and the region.

As a result of the workshops, the participants will be able to initiate CSR projects in their workplace and communities that focus on civic engagement. Participants will also be trained to use social media and networking sites to reach out to a larger community to address their needs, and these sites will provide the basis for a CSR alumni chapter that will kick-off from the UAE and spread throughout the Gulf region.


2011

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CSR in Action Newsletter 2011

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