In a move reflecting the depth of the partnership between the private and non-profit sectors in Saudi Arabia, Arab National Bank (ANB) and the Riyadh-based Blind Association “Kafif” celebrated the graduation of a new cohort of young Saudi men and women with visual impairments. The cohort comprised 55 young men and women who completed a specialized training program at the first call center of its kind dedicated to serving this group, which the bank fully funded and equipped.
A supportive national context: Vision 2030 and the empowerment of people with disabilities
This achievement comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is undergoing a radical transformation in its approach to disability rights, driven by the goals of Vision 2030. After decades where the focus was largely on traditional social welfare, the Kingdom has shifted towards an “empowerment” model that aims to integrate people with disabilities into the labor market as productive and active members. Training-to-employment initiatives, such as those offered by the Arab National Bank Center, are a practical application of the Quality of Life Program and the Human Capability Development Program, as the country seeks to increase employment rates for people with disabilities and provide inclusive work environments that meet their needs.
“Let’s Light Up Their Tomorrow” Initiative: Quality Training for the Labor Market
This initiative falls under the bank's community program, "Let's Light Up Their Future," which aims to empower beneficiaries professionally and economically. In its first year, the program successfully trained graduates in vital fields including call center services, technical support, customer service, relationship management, and risk management. The training also covered telesales skills and digital marketing, opening up broad horizons for graduates in the Kingdom's rapidly growing customer service sector.
The economic and social impact of strategic partnerships
The impact of this project extends beyond the humanitarian sphere to encompass significant economic and social dimensions. Economically, integrating visually impaired individuals into the labor market helps bridge employment gaps and utilize previously untapped human potential, thus boosting the GDP in the long term. Socially, this empowerment enhances the financial independence of blind individuals, boosts their self-confidence, and challenges societal stereotypes about their productive capabilities.
Details of the graduation ceremony and immediate employment
The ceremony, held at the headquarters of the Blind Association in Riyadh, was attended by Mr. Saad Al-Huraiki, Head of Media and Corporate Social Responsibility at Arab National Bank, and Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Bahli, Secretary General of the Association. During the ceremony, certificates were awarded to the graduates, and cooperation agreements were signed, resulting in seven immediate job opportunities. Efforts are underway to secure employment for the remaining graduates soon.
Al-Huraiki affirmed that the center's outcomes exceeded expectations, noting that the immediate employment reflects the quality of the training and the effectiveness of the initiative. For his part, Al-Bahli praised the pioneering role of Arab National Bank, emphasizing that the high-quality training environment contributed to honing the skills of the participants to efficiently meet the needs of the Saudi labor market.
