Bab Rizq Jameel (BRJ), an initiative of Abdul Latif Jameel Community Services Programs (ALJCSP), successfully created more than 41,284 job opportunities for young males and females during the year 2009 in different areas of the Kingdom. Jobs have also been created through BRJ's diversified job creation programs, which include training ending with employment, direct employment, taxi ownership, truck ownership, small project finance, productive household, work from home and franchise programs. Some of the jobs have appeared through support from the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) and the Saudi Credit & Saving Bank to the direct employment and small projects finance programs. In 2009, the direct employment program helped creating 7,493 jobs, with support in some of the jobs from the HRDF. The program matches job seekers directly to vacancies in the job market. Direct employment is achieved by analyzing job opportunities available with private companies or establishments, which send their vacancies to BRJ centers around the Kingdom, and defining the qualifications required for such jobs. The program created 4,074 jobs for males and 3,419 jobs for females. Among the most important jobs created for young males through this program were the central operators, security guards, sales representatives, cashiers, and goods arrangers, with monthly salaries ranging SR 2,500 to SR 4,500. For females, jobs created included sales representatives, receptionists, tailoring and public relations. Through the ‘training ending with employment' program, 2,825 jobs have been created, of which 1605 were for males and 1220 for females. This program concentrates on vocational and craft training courses that end with employment in private sector companies throughout the Kingdom. Training courses are prepared in line with, and according to the needs of the private sector. During 2009, such training areas included electricians, salespersons, refrigeration technicians, receptionists, foods and confectioneries. In addition, there are specialized courses for females in beauty care, nursing, cooking and computer maintenance. Also during the year 2009, BRJ financed 5,110 small projects, whether new or existing, provided that projects should create additional job opportunities. The average interest-free loan is SR 50,000. Among the projects financed were beauty salons, laundries, distribution of electronics products, confectionary and pastries businesses, female accessories, weddings business, distribution of mobile phones and computers. Maximum loan could reach SR 150,000 over a 5-year re-payment period. Based on Grameen Bank's microfinance concept, the “productive household” program provided support to 24,756 females throughout the Kingdom during 2009 to start their micro projects, such as handmade goods, perfumes and perfume mixtures, confectioneries and other home-based services. In this program, beneficiaries receive interest-free loans from SR 1,000 to SR 5,000. Through the truck ownership program, 762 truck cars were provided for young Saudi males, who can work as drivers and use their trucks to transport goods, vegetables, equipment and passengers. The taxi ownership program provided 322 taxi cars for young Saudi males, who can work as drivers and use their fully equipped taxi cars to transport people, and pay easy installment over a 4-year period at the end of which they will own the car. In addition, training opportunities have been provided through Nafisa Shams Academy for Arts and Crafts, a program of BRJ, for 915 female trainees in diversified areas. Also, jobs have been created for 16 females through the ‘work from home' program, which is supervised by Nafisa Shams Academy for Arts and Crafts. Through this program, approximately 2000 prayer rugs are monthly produced and sold to Toyota and Lexus. Comparing job opportunities created in each region, it is evident that Makkah area has received the highest ratio with 11,272 new jobs, followed by the Eastern area (6,822), Madina area (6,289), Riyadh area (5,845), Hail area (3,811), Jazan area (3,058), Abha area (2,338) and Qassim area with 1,849 job opportunities. Engineer Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, chief job creation officer at Bab Rizq Jameel, expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Crown Prince, the Second Deputy Premier, their Royal Highness Governors of provinces and their excellencies the Ministers for supporting ALJCSP throughout the Kingdom. Engineer Jameel said that ALJCSP, since its inception, has successfully created more than 113,509 job opportunities by the end of December 2009. Jameel added that the driving force for this achievement was the support from Governmental organizations, specifically HRDF and the Saudi Credit & Saving Bank, in addition to the more than 400 male and female job creation officers, as well as the successes of the beneficiaries. According to Engineer Jameel, the plans for the year 2010 are to create 46,000 job opportunities and to open new branches kingdom wide in the near future, and upon doing so, ALJCSP is developing its overall plans and strategies. Statements of job creation during the year 2009 have been verified by Deloitte & Touche and Partners, based on the procedures agreed upon between them and ALJCSP.
