The summer program is part of Al Baik's strategy which aims at teaching a new generation a of students how to handle social responsibilities and prepare them for their future role in society.

More than 1250 male and female students have participated in the program since its launch six years ago.

Jeddah, 19 June 2007:  Al Baik Food Systems Ltd launched its four week summer program 'With Al Baik You Are the House Hero' at a press conference held on Wednesday June 13, 2007 at the Vocational Industrial Institute, Jeddah, in the presence of officials from the Saudi Red Crescent and the Saudi Civil Defense.  The participants in the program are more than 300 students, all eager to make the most of their summer vacation by discovering their latent talents and learning practical skills in a variety of fields.

Directed at boys 12-18 years of age and girls 10-16 years of age, the 'With Al Baik You Are the House Hero" summer program, now in its sixth consecutive year, is part of the popular restaurant chain's strategy aimed at teaching a new generation of students how to handle social responsibilities and prepare them for their future role in society. The overall objective of the program is to support social development in the Kingdom by giving each new generation the opportunity to learn how to perform simple household tasks, discover and develop their latent talents in order to put them on the path to a bright and fulfilling future.

The program is divided into separate training sessions for boys and girls. The boy's sessions consist of five specialized courses: Introduction to Workshop Basics; Car Maintenance; Electrical Basics and Safety; Plumbing Basics; First Aid Procedures; and Fire Safety and Prevention; as also instruction in house maintenance and painting.  

The girls program consists of training sessions in Décor; Arts & Crafts; Basic Health Advice; Personal Grooming, which includes Etiquette; Cooking Basics; Physical Exercise; Safety and Prevention of Household Dangers; Fire Safety and Prevention; and First Aid Procedures.

With the collaboration of the Saudi Red Crescent and Jeddah Civil Defense, the boy's program is being held at the Jeddah Vocational Industrial Institute, while girl's program is being held on the premises of Al Faisaliah Women's Welfare Society.

Speaking at the press conference, Eng. Al-Sharif Sameer Bin Saleh, the Manager of the Jeddah Vocational Industrial Institute, said: "We are very happy to host and supervise the boy's training program since it provides an opportunity for participants to acquire new skills and show off their prowess in a series of purposeful training activities.  The various courses are designed to widen the students' horizons and raise their self esteem by teaching them practical skills which they can apply in their homes, schools, and even their future work places."

Representing Al Faisaliah Women's Welfare Society, a spokeswoman said: "Our organization is delighted to have the opportunity of working with Al Baik to help young girls widen their vision and increase their understanding of certain issues.  The program will prepare them for a number of household duties, develop their personal skills and give them the knowledge and experience of how to cope with emergency and crisis situations."

Eng. Rami Abu Ghazaleh, CEO of Al Baik Food Systems Ltd., expressed his pleasure at the continuing success of the annual summer program, saying "We are very proud of this initiative, which is part of Al Baik's overall corporate social responsibility program, which is directed at encouraging young people to make their contribution to society by engaging them in a series of innovative and interactive programs."

Eng. Abu Ghazaleh went on to say: "Over the past six years 'With Al Baik You Are the House Hero' has proved to be a program that is making a worthwhile contribution for the Saudi society by putting young people on the path that will help them to grow up into becoming socially responsible and caring adults. By showing the Kingdom's youth how to deal with the ups and downs of daily life without backing down from difficult situations, we aim at giving future generations the self-esteem and confidence that will make them valuable members of their families and of society as a whole."

Boy and girls who wish to benefit from the program's activities and become a House Hero can enroll in the Al Baik summer program by paying a refundable registration fee of 500 Riyals.

As an incentive for excelling, participants graduating with a final score of 90 percent will receive a full refund of the SR 500 enrollment fee, while those with between 80 to 89 percent scores receive a SR 400 refund, and participants with scores between 70 to 79 percent will be reimbursed SR 300. Participants with scores lower than 70 percent will not be entitled to any reimbursement.  This innovative motivational tool is being implemented to encourage students to utilize their potential to the ultimate, while enjoying the benefits of learning new skill sets in a creative, competitive and enjoyable environment.

-Ends-

About Al Baik:
For over 30 years Al Baik, the most popular chicken and seafood quick service restaurant chain in the Kingdom, has been serving customers their signature value for money chicken and seafood meals, and has become an icon of the highest quality and best value in the restaurant industry. Aside from that, Al Baik is also a leader in providing programs that are educational and entertaining geared to developing the minds and creativity of the youth in the Kingdom.

For further information please contact:
Ahmed Al Hassani
Media Manager
TRACCS - KSA
Tel: +966 2 663-2525       
Fax: +966 2 660-1874    
Email: ahmed@saccs.com

© Press Release 2007