Initiative part of company's extensive corporate social responsibility programme
Doha, November 27, 2011: A group of construction workers who are rebuilding the centre of Doha through the Msheireb Downtown project, have significantly boosted their skill sets after successfully completing a free IT training course offered by the project developer, Msheireb Properties.
Msheireb Properties, a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation, said the first group of construction staff received their certificates in October after completing six weeks of training in the Microsoft Office suite of applications, as well as an introductory course looking at IT hardware.
The developer's IT team members Mohammed Samiullah and Kris Tabili ran the free course at the workers' living quarters as part of the company's commitment to the welfare of its workforce and to expand the skill set of construction workers
The IT training which comprised 12 two-hour sessions with two classes held each week in English and Hindi, was made available to employees of contractors working on the QR20 bn Msheireb Downtown Doha development.
Mohammed Al-Marri, Projects Director at Msheireb Properties, said: "We are delighted with the level of participation and commitment shown by the first intake of students and look forward to expanding the programme in the future to include construction workers from outside our contractor base
Career development and skills training is an integral part of our approach to human resources and community development and, we believe in making available learning opportunities and creating the potential for advancement to all those involved in the construction of our unique development.
The initiative is just one facet of Msheireb Properties' comprehensive corporate social responsibility programs, through which it aims to support employees and the wider local community. Previous successes aimed at workers include hosting a Ramadan tent for construction workers during the Holy Month and a health and safety initiative that rewards individual workers for their strict adherence to safety rules.
In keeping with its commitment to fostering a sustainable future, Msheireb Properties has also launched the Green Programme for Schools, which aims to educate and engage with school pupils in Doha on issues relating to sustainability and green living.
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About Msheireb Properties
Msheireb Properties is a real estate company and a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation. The company was established as a commercial venture to support the Foundation's aims, as well as the goals of Qatar's 2030 Vision.
Msheireb Properties' mission is to change the way people think about urban living and improve their overall quality of life, through innovations that encourage social interaction, respect for culture, and greater care for the environment.
Msheireb Properties spent three years researching Qatari architecture and numerous approaches to urban planning all over the world with the most respected experts in the industry - in order to realise an architectural language rooted in the best of the past that may be preserved for and by future generations.
The company's name, Msheireb, means 'a place to drink water' and is the historical name of the downtown area of Doha. The company's corporate identity depicts the mouth of a stone well, a feature of traditional Gulf societies, and its distinct ink effect evokes classical Arabic calligraphy.
Msheireb Properties recently achieved ISO certification from the British Standards Institution for quality (ISO 9001:2008), environmental performance (ISO 14001:2004), and occupational health and safety (BS OHSAS 18001:2007).
The company has also earned widespread industry recognition, including at the MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Awards in Cannes, France.
In May 2011 Msheireb Properties launched a dynamic research project with the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. This joint exercise will examine the potential for sustainable urban development in the Gulf and produce a shared intellectual resource, the Gulf Encyclopedia for Sustainable Urbanism, to encourage best practice.
For further information on Msheireb Properties please contact:
Chatura Poojari
+974 33257708
cabbasi@msheireb.com
Kamal Nasrallah
+974 66562779
k.nasrallah@asdaa.com
© Press Release 2011
