Dubai: An Alliance for Youth bringing together companies and other entities interested in helping young people in the region enhance their skills and develop their careers is launching in Saudi Arabia, contributing to the regional commitment to impact 50,000 and employ 3,000 local youth by 2020.
 
The Alliance in Saudi Arabia, coming two years after the regional launch based on a model created by Nestlé Middle East; is starting off with partnership between Alawwal Bank, Ikea, Mayar (Muhaidib Foods), Nielsen, Savola, Tamer Group, and the University of Business and Technology.
 
“We know from experience in other countries that concerted collective efforts through partnerships and collaboration amplify positive impact in society,” said Samer Chedid, General Manager at Nestlé Saudi Arabia, which employs 490 people in the Kingdom, over 35% of whom are Saudi Arabian nationals. These include 181 youth under 30 years old, and 79 Saudi women.
 
Announced at a Youth Conference held at the University of Business and Technology in Jeddah and attended by over 100 young talents, the Alliance kicked off with a pledge from participating companies to engage in collective activities, develop individual initiatives towards youth, and to consolidate collaboration between them.
 
The Alliance in Saudi Arabia also comes six years after the Nestlé Center of Excellence’s launch in 2012, so far training more than 200 young Saudi men and women in the country through courses for a Nutrition Development Program, a Business Executive Certificate for Women, and a Sales Training Academy. The Center’s mission is to help bridge the skills gap between academic curriculum and corporate expectations.
 
“This Alliance is set to further expedite efforts to prepare local youth for employment in multinational, regional, and local companies, and provide more of them with careers across the country,” added Chedid. 
 
Nestlé’s efforts fall in line with the company’s Creating Shared Value commitment to “Foster Opportunities for Youth,” published in its first Nestlé in Society report for the Middle East in 2015.
 
The Alliance for Youth now consists of 17 members across the Middle East, with a collective goal to impact 50,000 through internships, graduate and training programs, and apprenticeships opportunities, and hire 3,000 by 2020.
 
More about All 4 YOUth:
The “Alliance for Youth” is a business-driven movement aimed at promoting better transition from education to employment for youth across the Middle East. All 4 YOUth strives to be a change agent in sharing knowledge and experiences to solve local barriers to youth employment.
 
The Alliance is based on four pillars that include hiring youth, supporting the youth, providing skills to the youth, and partnering with companies that support the same objectives.
 
All 4 YOUth members are encouraged to work towards:
The supply of quality internship and traineeship positions, as well as programs facilitating labor mobility
The participation of member companies and the Alliance in readiness for work programs (career consultation, CV clinics, mock interviews, etc.) in close coordination with educational institutions and youth organizations.
The sharing of knowledge and experiences with education providers, authorities at all levels, business organizations, and youth associations
 
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© Press Release 2018