600 graduates reach their potential with Microsoft Bahrain's 'Career Connections'

The ceremony marks the graduation of over 600 students to date from the second phase of Microsoft's 'Career Connections' program, aimed at training unemployed Bahraini graduates and enabling them to be successful in the work place.

Microsoft also gave thanks to collaborating partners The Bahrain Internet Society, who are responsible for the central administration and sustainability of the project and Esterad Investment Company, who supported the program with a generous donation. Guests at the ceremony also heard an address from graduating student Mr. Amin Al Rihani, who commented: "Through the career connections training course, myself and my fellow students have gained access to technology, resources and teachers that will help us realize our full potential in our future careers. I myself am moving to a position with Alba, where the technology and personal skills that I have learned whilst on the course, and as a master trainer, will be invaluable."

Microsoft plan to demonstrate their continued commitment to the economic and social development of Bahrain by completing the training of over 1000 students in the coming three months , and 85 of today's 200 graduates have already secured jobs within the Kingdom, with 50 progressing into further education. In addition to H.E. Dr. Al Baharna the graduation ceremony was presided over by Mr. Khalid Lootah, Microsoft's Public Sector Director, who was joined by Mr. Ahmed Al Hujairy, Chairman of BIS, and Managing Director, Mr. Abdurahman Jamsheer from Esterad Investment Company.

Microsoft collaborates with non-governmental organizations such as the Bahrain Internet Society as part of Microsoft's global Unlimited Potential (UP) Initiative to create an IT-aware and IT-skills equipped workforce. Unlimited Potential - which supports community based technology learning centers - was launched by Microsoft three years ago, and since then Microsoft Gulf has given away 28 grants in six countries around the region with a total of $1.5m in cash and software.

Mr. Khalid Lootah, Microsoft's Public Sector Director, commented:

"Microsoft places building partnerships with educators, community learning centers, governments, non-profit organizations and development agencies among its top priorities. Through the 'Career Connections' program we aim to address the challenge of employability among Bahraini youth by building IT and personal skills, which we hope in turn will create new opportunities and realize the country's nationalization plans. We understand government's concerns of ensuring young nationals are given the chance to realize their potential, and thanks to 'Career Connections' today's graduates are entering the workplace with enhanced technology skills to help them find their defined roles in society."

On this occasion, H.E. Dr. Nazar Al Baharna commented: "This kind of initiative by community-minded organizations like Microsoft encourages talent and develops a skilled workforce for business community, which will ultimately lead to a flourishing economy for the Kingdom in the years to come. I am very proud to be here today to honor these students, and to wish them good luck in their future careers."

Mr. Ahmed Al Hujairy, Chairman of BIS, commented: "Technology has an increasingly pervasive role in the Kingdom's business activities, and today's graduates have a great advantage when entering the workplace. BIS will continue to assist in the third phase of the program by coordinating with training institutes, to help realize Microsoft's vision of sustainable futures and empowerment of Bahrain's youth."

The 'Career Connections: initiative was launched in March 2004, and 193 Bahrainis successfully graduated from phase one of the program. Phase two of Career Connections comprises of two parts; the first, "Train the Trainer," prepares select instructors to teach future batches of Career Connections courses and focuses on delivering training skills to ensure self sustainability of the Microsoft Career Connections program and has already trained 8 trainers who are now redelivering the courses.

The second part of Career Connections is the Basic track; this involves training unemployed Bahraini graduates on software tools like Microsoft Office, as well as useful internet skills. Microsoft's initial plan is to train 1,000 young Bahrainis on the Basic Track training by December 2007, of which 600 have now been trained.

The Career Connections program has been generously supported through a generous donation from local investment broker Esterad, whose Managing Director, Mr. Abdurahman Jamsheer attended today's ceremony. Speaking at the event, Mr. Jasmsheer commented: "Esterad willingly supports companies like Microsoft, whose vision of youth empowerment and development is essential to the progression of the Kingdom's economy in future years. As a leader in Bahrain's financial market, we are sure that initiatives like Career Connections will go a long way to combating the rising unemployment figures seen in The Kingdom over the past few years."

Young Bahrainis wishing to benefit from enhanced technology skills are still encouraged to register for Microsoft 'Career Connections', and can do so at Al Moayyed Institute of Technology, where there are still a few remaining places for the third phase of the training course.