The Springboard programme’s growing success for women in Oman
Some 400 women in Oman have now completed the Springboard women’s development programme.
Developed by the UK-based Springboard Consultancy, the Springboard women’s development programme enables women to identify the clear, practical and realistic steps that they want to take to make a better world for themselves at work and home, while building both the practical skills and the confidence to take these steps.
Ayesha Salim Al Shoily, a licensed Springboard trainer with Ooredoo, based in Oman, recently completed delivering a Springboard programme to 150 women - all of whom are professionals working in the Oman Government sector. The programme was supported, as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments and the memorandum of understanding signed between Ooredoo and several Government sectors, by Ooredoo, the Qatar-based digital telecoms company.
Having been trained and licensed as a Springboard trainer some six years ago, Ayesha has now led Springboard programmes for over 400 women in Oman. Some 200 of these were trained only last year so, says Ayesha, this shows that the programme is gaining momentum within the region.
Ayesha added, “As part of their development, women on the Springboard programme are encouraged to devise and deliver a project. On the recently completed programme, the women delivered over 30 projects – most of which are charitable in nature.
“These projects were showcased at a conference and exhibition that marked these women’s graduation.”
As an indication of the Springboard programme’s growth in status and value in Oman, the Under-Secretary at the Civil Service Ministry hosted the first such graduation ceremony. The Minister of the Civil Service hosted the graduation ceremony in 2015 - and this year’s graduation was hosted by the Minister of the Environment and Climate Affairs, HE Mohammed bin Salim Al Toobi.
“Many of the women choose to continue delivering their charity projects after they’ve graduated from the Springboard programme,” said Ayesha. “In response – and to encourage this trend - the Ministry of Civil Service has now decided to officially support those groups who continue working on their projects.”
“Ooredoo believes that the Sultanate’s ambitious female population is one of its strongest assets,” said Kumail Al Moosawi, Ooredoo Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer. “They have important roles to play in business, industry, government, and academia; their achievements helping power Oman’s continued success and prosperity.
“We welcome progressive programmes like Springboard that help them fulfil their ambitions and make their aspirations a reality as we work together for a better tomorrow.”
About Ooredoo
Omani Qatari Telecommunications Company SAOG (“Ooredoo”) was founded and registered in the Sultanate of Oman in December 2004. It launched its service in March 2005 as the challenger mobile operator in Oman, originally operating under the name Nawras. The Company was awarded the second fixed licence in Oman in 2009, and launched its international gateway in April 2010, its corporate fixed and broadband services in May 2010, and its residential fixed and broadband services in June 2010. Since 2010, Ooredoo has been an integrated services telecommunications operator and is currently serving over two million customers across the Sultanate. Following a successful IPO on 1 November 2010, Ooredoo is listed on the Muscat Stock Market (MSM) under the “ORDS” ticker. Ooredoo is majority owned by Ooredoo Q.S.C. and also has a number of significant Omani shareholders which ensures that the company is strongly integrated into the Omani society. Ooredoo has won a number of awards including Jury’s Distinction Award for Customer Service Excellence in the telecom sector 2013, Leading Telecommunications Company at the Arab Achievement Awards 2013, Best Operator Network at the Telecoms World Middle East 2013 Awards, a number of awards for their outstanding campaigns at the Dubai Lynx Awards in February 2014 and the CommsMEA award for Middle East Mobile Operator of the Year 2015.