Program aimed at exposing youth to the workplace to learn about careers during field visit
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Citibank UAE recently hosted Grade 12 students from Za'abeel Public School for Girls, as part of JA Job Shadow program, organized by INJAZ-UAE. The young girls spent the day at the bank for an authentic work world experience, as they walked in the shoes of Citi professionals, who have volunteered for the day to share their daily work activities and skills.
Citi hosts introduced students to various departments includingE-Business, Tech, Account Documentation, Branch Banking, Compliance, Corporate Affairs, HR, Citi Services, Tele Marketing, and CitiPhone.
In collaboration with Citibank,this visit introduced students to career options and the skills required to enter the banking sector. During the day, volunteer hosts interacted with students in a two-way dialogue, leading to sharing career aspirations by students and career experience by the host. In addition, the volunteer hosts, who acted as role models, offered valuable career guidance as they gave students real-life insight and first-hand experience into the corporate world.
"It was invigorating while interacting with bright, young, enthusiastic Emiratis" said Lata Swaminathan, Vice President, Acquisitions & Marketing, Middle East, Citibank, NRI Business, Dubai.
The Job Shadow Day primarily focuses on developing students' work-readiness skills that prepares them for the modern world of work. The program is designed to introduce students to careers through one-day, on-site orientations for an authentic real-world experience, enhanced with a variety of classroom preparatory and follow-up learning activities.
The program takes youth out of their school day and everyday environment to expose them to jobs and introduce them to role models who can help them plan for their future. The program also enables youth to become knowledgeable about a wider range of career avenues and an array of social and personal aspects that impact their career choices and future goals.
Expressing her satisfaction with the experience, EramAsghar Mohammad had spent her Job Shadow Day in the HR Department and attended a real interview. She commented "The interviewee lacked confidence and basic work readiness skills that we had been taught in the classroom; therefore, it was a no hire for me."
The program takes youth out of their school day and everyday environment to expose them to jobs and introduce them to role models who can help them plan for their future. The program also enables youth to become knowledgeable about a wider range of career avenues and an array of social and personal aspects that impact their career choices and future goals.
Venus Alde, Learning & Development Head, Citibank - UAE, commented "We were delighted to take part in INJAZ's Job Shadow Day program and be able to provide the students from Za'abeel School the opportunity to explore the world of banking. The visit provided them enriching and experiential learning where they experienced a typical day at Citi with the guidance of their Job Shadow Hosts. During their visit they had a better understanding of our working environment, discovered skills required for the career they are interested in and understood the importance of team work and interpersonal skills. For many of the students, the experience led them to explore and think of various career options that they've never considered before."
"For the Job Shadow Hosts, being able to take part in such an initiative was indeed a rewarding experience. We are all glad to be able to make a difference!" she added.
Citibank will open its doors every semester to host high school and university students at its premises to implement the program. Citi volunteers also deliver a number of world-class INJAZ-UAE programs, namely Personal Economics and JA Banks in Action.
"With Citi's collaboration, we are shaping the development of Emirati youth and the future leaders of this country, by giving them a foretaste of career opportunities that exist in the banking sector, and in a larger context, the private-sector" said Sulaf Saleh Al-Zu'bi, CEO, INJAZ-UAE. "The Job Shadow is an intriguing andinvaluable learning experience for students. The program pairsclassroom learning with real work exposure to the corporate world. Because of this exposure, they understand the requirements of the modern workplace and what it takes to succeed. As a result, they are able to plan their careers and make better choices that match their skills and abilities."
"Citi volunteers have played a remarkable role as they their experiences and skills to help prepare students to meet the challenges of the real world" she added.
-Ends-
About Citi:
Citi, the leading global financial services company, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.
Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://new.citi.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi
About Citi Foundation:
The Citi Foundation is committed to the economic empowerment and financial inclusion of individuals and families, particularly those in need, in the communities where we work so that they can improve their standard of living. Globally, the Citi Foundation targets its strategic giving to priority focus areas: Microfinance, Enterprise Development, Youth Education and Livelihoods, and Financial Capability and AssetBuilding. The Citi Foundation works with its partners in Microfinance and Enterprise Development to support environmental programs and innovations. Additional information can be found at www.citifoundation.com.
About INJAZ-UAE:
INJAZ-UAE is a member of Junior Achievement Worldwide, the world's largest non-profit business education organization. INJAZ-UAE is a partnership between the business community, educators and volunteers - working together to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. INJAZ-UAE and its regional partner, INJAZ Al-Arab, mobilize the private sector to help create a new generation of motivated and professional graduates by sending corporate volunteers to classrooms across MENA to train youth in success skills, entrepreneurship and financial literacy -- narrowing the gap between students and the world of work. The organization targets 11-24 year-old students. INJAZ-UAE is led by a national board of business leaders who share a common ideal for youth and provide overall direction, funding and good governance.
For more information, please visit www.injaz-uae.org
About JA Worldwide™:
JA Worldwide is the world's largest organization committed to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Now in its 90th year, JA Worldwide provides hands-on, experiential learning in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness to nearly 10 million students annually. With 510 local offices in 123 countries - and an extensive network of partners from the private and public sectors - JA Worldwide mobilizes a global force of business volunteers to teach in-school and after-school programs that give students the tools they need today, to succeed tomorrow. These programs show young people how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs, which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action, and help strengthen their communities.
For more information, please visit www.ja.org.
© Press Release 2012
