27/02/2006
Microsoft and KES Launch 'Empower' Programme
Microsoft and Kuwait Economic Society (KES) announced yesterday the signing of an MOU to collaborate on a new project and provide ICT training to Kuwaitis. The 'Empower' project will provide opportunities for young Kuwaitis, especially women on the welfare programme to train in essential computer skills, to improve their employment prospects.
Microsoft and KES Launch 'Empower' Programme
The MOU was duly signed by Dr Rola Abdullah Dashti, Chairperson of KES and Charbel Fakhoury, General Manager for Microsoft Gulf, announcing the launch of the project. The signing ceremony was also attended by high-ranking officials of both companies. Khalil AbdulMuhsin Al-Qenaie, undersecretary at KES and Mutlaq Mubarak 41 Sane', Head of career development committee, represented Kuwait Economic Society, while Microsoft was represented by Omar Draghmeh, EPG Sales Manager, and Mohammed Al-Tura Public Sector Manager for Microsoft Kuwait.
"This partnership with Microsoft aims at encouraging the affiliation between community development organisations and the private sector to drive social and economic growth in the country, Dr Dashti said. "Empower is a pioneering project that primarily targets unemployed women in Kuwait but will generally help young people to take an active and productive role in society increasing their chances of employment in the private sector" she added.
Commenting on the initiative, Charbel Fakhoury stated: "By providing technical skills training to the disadvantaged, we can partner to create social and economic opportunities that can change peoples' lives and transform communities. Ultimately, Microsoft is helping bridge the global technological gap by providing the training and tools people need to realize their potential".
"Microsoft and KES highlighted the importance of this initiative in facilitating recruitment in the private sector and encouraging graduates to start their own small businesses, thus boosting the services industry." We believe, by focusing on women, the benefits extend far beyond the individuals attending the training courses at the centres. Entire families improve socially and economically thus creating a better community," Dr Rola Dashti, KES chairman noted.
Project Empower is part of Microsoft's Unlimited Potential (UP) programme, a global initiative that focuses on improving lifelong learning and providing technical skills training to underserved individuals through Community Technology and Learning Centres (CTLCs). A CTLC has been established by KES at the society premises where the training will take place. The centre will also use the Microsoft UP curriculum, an easy and efficient set of lessons for ICT learning, that have been developed by Microsoft and its partners.
The project will run in two phases. In the first phase, ten recruits will enrol in a 'train the trainer' programme to prepare them as Master Trainers. These Master Trainers will then be responsible for delivering the IT skills courses to larger groups of students in phase two. The initial target is to graduate a total of two hundred students over the first year of the project.
The project aims at shedding more light on issues that the young Kuwaitis encounter when it comes to recruitment in the private sector, which is rather challenging" Dr Dashti said. "It is one of the main concerns of the government and we, in partnership with Microsoft, are keen to make it happen," she added.
By: www.kuwaittimes.net
Name: Microsoft and KES Launch 'Empower' Programme
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Microsoft and KES Launch 'Empower' Programme
The MOU was duly signed by Dr Rola Abdullah Dashti, Chairperson of KES and Charbel Fakhoury, General Manager for Microsoft Gulf, announcing the launch of the project. The signing ceremony was also attended by high-ranking officials of both companies. Khalil AbdulMuhsin Al-Qenaie, undersecretary at KES and Mutlaq Mubarak 41 Sane', Head of career development committee, represented Kuwait Economic Society, while Microsoft was represented by Omar Draghmeh, EPG Sales Manager, and Mohammed Al-Tura Public Sector Manager for Microsoft Kuwait.
"This partnership with Microsoft aims at encouraging the affiliation between community development organisations and the private sector to drive social and economic growth in the country, Dr Dashti said. "Empower is a pioneering project that primarily targets unemployed women in Kuwait but will generally help young people to take an active and productive role in society increasing their chances of employment in the private sector" she added.
Commenting on the initiative, Charbel Fakhoury stated: "By providing technical skills training to the disadvantaged, we can partner to create social and economic opportunities that can change peoples' lives and transform communities. Ultimately, Microsoft is helping bridge the global technological gap by providing the training and tools people need to realize their potential".
"Microsoft and KES highlighted the importance of this initiative in facilitating recruitment in the private sector and encouraging graduates to start their own small businesses, thus boosting the services industry." We believe, by focusing on women, the benefits extend far beyond the individuals attending the training courses at the centres. Entire families improve socially and economically thus creating a better community," Dr Rola Dashti, KES chairman noted.
Project Empower is part of Microsoft's Unlimited Potential (UP) programme, a global initiative that focuses on improving lifelong learning and providing technical skills training to underserved individuals through Community Technology and Learning Centres (CTLCs). A CTLC has been established by KES at the society premises where the training will take place. The centre will also use the Microsoft UP curriculum, an easy and efficient set of lessons for ICT learning, that have been developed by Microsoft and its partners.
The project will run in two phases. In the first phase, ten recruits will enrol in a 'train the trainer' programme to prepare them as Master Trainers. These Master Trainers will then be responsible for delivering the IT skills courses to larger groups of students in phase two. The initial target is to graduate a total of two hundred students over the first year of the project.
The project aims at shedding more light on issues that the young Kuwaitis encounter when it comes to recruitment in the private sector, which is rather challenging" Dr Dashti said. "It is one of the main concerns of the government and we, in partnership with Microsoft, are keen to make it happen," she added.
By: www.kuwaittimes.net
