On the 1st of October 2012, BNP Paribas inaugurated the “BNP Paribas Office Training Incubator” under the patronage, and in the presence of, Her Excellency Dr. Fatema Al Baloushi, Bahrain’s Minister of Social Development. The event also included a keynote speech from Nejib Friji, Director of the United Nations Information Centre in Bahrain.

The Office Training Incubator is the first initiative of its kind in Bahrain. It will support 15 individuals with disability per year by providing them with 9 hours of study a week over the course of a full academic year. Through a curriculum of 8 modules delivered in both English and Arabic by the Bahrain Training Institute, students will learn a mix of theoretical and practical office skills. The curriculum will cover core skill such as Work Ethics, IT Skills, Business Communication, Time Management, Customer Relations, English, Secretarial Skills and Maths.

The ultimate goal: to provide access to solid training opportunities for disabled individuals, helping them widen their skill sets… and career possibilities. It is an initiative that both fulfills a key objective of the BNP Paribas MEA STARS Community Investment Program, and reinforces the Kingdom of Bahrain’s national principle: breaking social barriers, providing equal opportunities to people with disabilities.

The initiative has been made possible, and was fully equipped, through the generosity of BNP Paribas Bahrain staff members who collectively raised USD 50,000 to fund this project!