18,047 students in 45 schools benefited from the programs so far

inJAz Bahrain - July 10, 2010: inJAz Bahrain celebrated its fifth anniversary at the Gulf Hotel in a ceremony held on (7th July) attended by the organization's founders, board members, Executive Director Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa and a large contingent of the organization's supporters and strategic partners.

In line with the event's theme, "5 Years of Inspiration", the event included a special slideshow featuring the most significant milestones of the past five years. Among them, number of students reached (18,047), number of schools assisted (30 secondary and 15 intermediate schools), number of participating volunteers (639) and strategic partners (16). At the event, supporters who have contributed to inJAz Bahrain for the last five consecutive years and volunteers who have participated at least five times or delivered five programs were recognized.

inJAz Bahrain is a non-profit organization driven by the private sector which seeks to educate and inspire young people to value enterprise, business, and economics to improve the quality of their lives. In partnership with the business community and educators, it aims to bring the real world to students in order to broaden their horizons and unlock their potential.

Shaikha Hessa thanked all the partners and volunteers who contributed to the organization's success, saying, "The tremendous success over the past five years is a testimony to what can be achieved through vision, teamwork and dedication."

She also acknowledged the valuable support from the private sector, which she called "the main driver of our success." "Contribution from the private sector not only helps us realize our goals," she said, "but, just as importantly, it makes that success sustainable as well."

inJAz Bahrain, a member of the worldwide organization Junior Achievement, was established in 2005 to provide young people with a business and economic education so that they will have the knowledge, skills, tools and hands-on experience they need when seeking employment.

Currently, inJAz Bahrain has 10 programs in a variety of hard and soft skills such as entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness. These programs are delivered in the participating schools by experienced volunteers from the business world.

Shaikha Hessa noted the ongoing support given by the Ministry of Education, which helped the upstart inJAz Bahrain program reach all secondary schools in a relatively short period of time. "We are currently working with the Ministry to reach all school levels in all the five governorates at the same pace," she revealed.

inJAz Bahrain Chairman Abdul-Rahman Jawhery, who focused on the great corporate social responsibility opportunities for the private sector within inJAz Bahrain to promote better business understanding amongst Bahraini youth and maximize their growth potential within it. According to Jawhery, such collaboration equips Bahraini youth with valuable skills and tools that complement their formal education and enhance their chances to succeed in both their working career and personal lives.

The event is a main feature within a series of planned activities aimed at achieving a number of objectives. In addition to promoting the organization and reinforcing its position as a leading provider in enterprise education, the activities seek to recognize and inj inJAz Bahrain's contribution and coordination structure.

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About inJAz Bahrain:
The purpose of inJAz Bahrain is to inspire and prepare young Bahrainis to succeed in a global economy. With the support of positive adult role models who volunteer their time, inJAz Bahrain enables young consumers to understand business, citizenship, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics/character, financial literacy, and work-readiness. The programs also encourage confidence and motivate young people to achieve their personal, educational, and career goals. These learning experiences establish the foundation upon which today's students can acquire the skills and aptitudes necessary to succeed in a fast-changing world.

inJAz Bahrain volunteers are supported by 16 committed community leaders who serve on the board of directors. These professionals provide the organization with valued guidance and support. In addition, inJAz Bahrain works with a number of local collaborations and affiliations. These relationships ensure that efforts are not duplicated and that available resources are used in the most effective ways possible.

As non-profit inJAz Bahrain began serving the community in 2005. It is supported by funds generously granted by foundations and area businesses. Individuals also give to the organization, and they assist with fund-raising activities throughout the year. The organization is part of Junior Achievement Worldwide that has a presence in more than 123 countries around the world.

© Press Release 2010