The Programme is aimed at training university students on identifying opportunities in their cities as well as inspiring them to implement projects that will have a positive impact within their communities. In Bahrain, the programme was launched by the Executive Director of inJAz Bahrain, Her Highness, Shaikha Hessa Bint Khalifa AlKhalifa and Antoine Tayyar, the Public Affairs and Communications Director, The Coca-Cola Export Corporation. The university representatives from University of Bahrain and Royal University of Women also attended the event.
Antoine said that under this initiative Coca Cola intends to add ten universities as part of the strategy to broaden the scope of the training and development of youngsters in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The Coca-Cola Foundation has supported sustainable activities worldwide in 206 countries where The Coca-Cola Company operates since 1984. The Ripples of Happiness Program falls in line with both The Coca-Cola Foundation and INJAZ Al-Arab’s longstanding strategy to empower youth and foster social responsibility. The program is taking place simultaneously in Universities across Palestine, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Jordan.
In the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Ripples of Happiness program is hosted by University of Bahrain and Royal University for Women and commences on Saturday the 24th of March and Wednesday the 28th of March respectively.
Throughout the Ripples of Happiness program the students will have the opportunity to learn a wide range of fundamental corporate social responsibility concepts and important principles for work readiness. With training and mentoring from a team consisting of volunteers from Coca-Cola team in the Middle East and volunteers from the INJAZ Al-Arab network, the students will be engaging in sustainability focused activities aimed at making a positive impact within their communities.
“Inviting inJAz Bahrain to be one of the 1st countries to be part of this phenomenal endeavor is an honor to young Bahrainis. This initiative is going to reinforce what inJAz Bahrain has been doing towards the community over the last seven years. We are really grateful to Coca-Cola for embarking on such innovative experience and giving the youth of Bahrain the opportunity to demonstrate their affection to their country through a community development project,” Her Highness, Sheikha Hessa Bint Khalifa AlKhalifa said.
The Coca-Cola Foundation will support the pilot of the projects implemented by each university. A judging panel combining representatives from the Coca-Cola Foundation, INJAZ Al-Arab, and various community leaders will then join forces to choose the top community project in each market in Bahrain. The winning project will receive a grant to support the implementation of the project on a larger scale.
“The role of youth within their communities is growing, and with this growth comes great responsibility,” said Antoine Tayyar, Public Affairs and Communications Director, Coca-Cola Middle East. “The Ripples of Happiness program is aimed at offering the youth the opportunity to be empowered and trained, so that they play an active role within their communities, and so that they create a positive impact on the lives of those around them.”
The Ripples of Happiness programe will also launch at the following universities Bethlehem University and Beir Zeit University in Palestine; University of Bahrain and Royal University for Women in Bahrain; College of Business Administration for Men and Women in Saudi Arabia; American University of Beirut and Lebanese American University in Lebanon and University of Jordan and Yarmouk University in Jordan.