Al Ahli Group launches CSR division with youth project

The Group, which holds business interests in a broad range of industries including construction, engineering and retail, has joined forces with Junior Achievement Argentina and with full support of Nakheel and other partners that will be announced shortly.

Junior Achievement Argentina is part of the global Junior Achievement (JA) Worldwide programme, a partnership between the business community, educators and volunteers — all working together to inspire young people to dream big and reach their potential.

Al Ahli Group, in partnership with JA Argentina, has created the Global Business Opportunities Initiative, to provide hands-on, experiential programmes to teach the key concepts of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy to young people from the two communities of the UAE and Argentina. The project is in line with His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minsiter of UAE and Ruler of Dubai vision on "commitment to CSR values."

His Excellency Ruben Eduardo Caro, Ambassador of Argentina met Lina Hourani, CSR, Division Director for Al Ahli Group and UAE students in Abu Dhabi. The Ambassador generously spent hours with Emirati students sharing economical, political and cultural information to support and advised the participants business plan.

Furthermore, his dedication to this initiative carried him to Argentina where he met the Argentinian participants giving them the same level of dedication and support for the UAE market exposing and broadening awareness.

"It is our aim to lead by example and show the private sector what can be achieved with active and actual social responsibility," said Khammas, a business leader renowned for his 'hands on' approach to leadership.

"Through our dedicated CSR division it is our aim to develop Emirati youth, building their skills and widening their horizons and exposure. To achieve this we work with passion, honesty and integrity, using the power of partnership and co-operation with organizations such as Junior Achievement Argentina who we believe can support us in providing the Arab youth with the skills and knowledge needed to become the business leaders of tomorrow."

The Global Business Opportunities Initiative will provide opportunities for Arab youths aged 18 to 25 to gain exposure to systemized training and an international business environment.

Over the summer, ten Emirati and ten Argentinean students have taken part in an intense training programme; they went on field trips, experienced a different culture and were exposed to a global business environment. The students then formed into five groups and were set the task of developing a business plan for their own projects.

The programme enabled them to learn from South American and Emirati corporate leaders, communicate with business peers from a different culture and community, network on a global level, and hone their entrepreneurial skills. In addition, the 20 youths also get to attend an international entrepreneurship conference with 600 international participants.

"At the end of the programme, the Best Business Plan will be presented by our participants in Dubai. This encouragement is invaluable in giving the next generation the confidence and tools to take business to the next level," said Khammas.

The Best Business Plan Award will be presented in October. In addition to accolades, the final result of all this hard work will be the development of the five Business Plans, setting the young entrepreneurs on the path to business success.