Unilever Arabia and Beit Binzagr partnership launches "I love my school" social project

In view of the partnership and great understanding of the important role that private sector companies must play in the community toward the contribution to its development and elevation and serving of the community members to ensure the creation of ideal community.

Unilever Arabia and Beit Binzagr in cooperation with Beit Binzagr launched the "I love my school" project, which aims for a shift in the quality of schools through the modernization of school buildings and vitality facilities and the preparation and equipping of various laboratories with the most modern equipment, and also organizing of many training courses and workshops for teaching and administrative boards of school and increasing pupils and their parents attachment the school through the organization of many social and sporting events throughout the school year.

To implement its initiative on the ground and to activate its role in serving the community, in which it operates, the partnership, in cooperation with Directorate of Education in Makkah Region, selected King Faisal Elementary School to launch its project for the development of schools. The selection of King Faisal Elementary School to launch this initiative was based on several reasons, mainly as it is a public school and operates in governmental owned expandable for adding vitality facilities.

Over the past few months, the partnership under the supervision of the Directorate of Education in Makkah Region implemented the " I love my school' project for the development of King Faisal Elementary School program, where a general renovation of the school building and public facilities were was carried out, increasing green areas, preparation of the mosque and the football field and building of gymnasium room. The partnership, as well, prepared and equipped languages lap for teaching Koran and English language plus science and computer laboratories. The partnership also added one reception room and public library and furnished the teacher's sitting room with modern furniture.

Unilever Arabia organized many training courses and workshops for teachers and administrators, including specialized courses in behavior of children and modern teaching methods including courses in thinking skills and children raising.

To contribute in raising of health awareness among the pupils and their parents, the company will organize several seminars and lectures on hygiene and personal care requirements and proper nutrition for the pupils and their parents. Several field visits will be organized for the pupils to visit Bin Zagr Unilever factories in the industrial zone in Jeddah.

On this occasion, Sheikh Wabin Binzagr, Chairman of Beit Binzagr Group of Companies, said : " In view of our keen awareness of our duty and responsibility towards the community in which we exist and operate, Unilever Arabia in cooperation with Beit Binzagr prepared a special program to develop and enrich the educational process in our country, this program aims primarily toward strengthening the role of the schools and the teachers in the upbringing and education of young people and to increase their attachment to the school through the foundation of the ideal school with integrated ideal facilities to ensure the creation of an ideal educational environment thus allowing all parties of the educational process to perform their duties properly. "

"There is a big responsibility on private sector companies toward the society in which they exist. Through " I love my school " program we set an example for other companies to move in this direction, and to contribute to the development and prosperity of society, since the growth and development of society will be reflected on their work and will be to their benefit. " he added.

Community service should not be confined to the government, everyone must participate. Here comes the role of companies, especially the big ones, in view of their ability to implement large-scale projects, which benefit large numbers of community members.

Jan Zijderveld, Unilever Middle East Chairman, said: "We are gathered here today to inaugurate the new building of the King Faisal School, another evidence of Unilever's continuous global commitment to actively involve in socio-civic projects and other cause-oriented activities. Unilever believes in quality education as the key to a brighter and productive future. In this respect, the addition of a new building to King Faisal School - that will house the computer and English laboratories - will certainly be a tool towards that direction. Unilever puts premium on the necessary knowledge students should learn in school. And such can only be made possible when the school has sufficient facilities to properly equip them. Besides, students would appreciate highly a school which has more learning facilities. A school like that would definitely motivate students to study harder and inspire them to learn more".

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those whom participated in this program, with special thanks to Mr. Abdullah bin Ahmed Althagafi, the General Manager of Directorate of Culture and Education in Makkah Region, and also I thank the administrative and teaching board of King Faisal Elementary School and the pupils. I, also thank all Unilever Arabia and Beit Binzagr staff whom contributed to the success of this project. We shall continue to provide support for the development of schools in the line of our commitment toward the services of the community", he added.

Mr. Ahmed Othman Sindi- the Training Manager the General Supervisor of Unilever Community Service projects, pointed out that the integration of the project based on the combination of the four main axis, which are the students, the teachers, the parents and the facilities vitality, to ensure and upgrading of education.

The great cooperation of the administrative and teaching board of King Faisal Elementary Scholl played a vital role in the success of this project and the strengthening of the role of the school to create an ideal learning environment. Directorate of Education in Makkah Region, as well, played an important role by providing all forms of support and contribution to overcome all the obstacles that have emerged during the implementation of the project.