7th edition of ENOC Challenge extends professional training for students from Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre

Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) is offering professional training for special needs individuals who were recommended by the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre through the seventh edition of its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, the ENOC Challenge. 

To date, ENOC Challenge, organised in association with Dubai’s Community Development Authority (CDA) and Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre, has trained over 130 candidates, including special needs and financially underprivileged individuals, to prepare them for professional careers. 

Currently, four special needs candidates are working across the different departments of ENOC to gain an overview of the workplace environment and gain new skills. The six-month ENOC Challenge programme will conclude in April 2014. 

Basma Essa, Senior Manager - Brand and Corporate Communications Management of ENOC, said: “One of our key CSR activities, ENOC Challenge has contributed to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the underprivileged and special needs individuals by offering them professional workplace training. They train across several departments of ENOC, enabling them to acquire skills, which will support them in pursuing careers that make them feel personally fulfilled and self-reliant. ENOC Challenge’s success has established it as a model for other organisations in developing training programmes and CSR initiatives for special needs individuals.” 

Maryam Othman, Director of Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre, said: “ENOC Challenge has indeed served as a strong example of how leading organisations can work to support the personal development goals that we outline for our students. The elaborate and hands-on training support offered by ENOC strengthens the self-confidence of our students and also help in obtaining jobs where they can prove their skills and talent. Such initiatives are important to promote the spirit of social cohesion which the Government of Dubai promotes.” 

Each candidate in the ENOC Challenge programme is evaluated for their skills, based on which he or she is assigned tasks they can accomplish. All of them are also assigned individual mentors of the ENOC companies and supervised by ENOC Learning & Development Department. They are also trained to undertake different responsibilities, and work in groups. The courses also cover work ethics, customer service, preparing CVs and job interview training. 

Several participants from earlier ENOC Challenges have undertaken professional roles with different organisations. 

ENOC also conducts the Masiraty programme in association with the Ministry of Social Affairs, which encourages individuals on welfare to become part of the business workforce by providing them a four-month long training programme. 

CSR is a core purpose and value at ENOC, with the organisation winning Asia’s top laurel for Best Corporate Social Responsibility Practice at the Asian Leadership Awards, which honours super achievers in the continent. 

One of ENOC’s largest corporate social responsibility initiatives is to raise funds for the construction of a child care centre for Dubai Autism Centre, a non-profit organisation serving children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The company also conducts several concerted public welfare campaigns throughout the year, particularly during the Holy Month of Ramadan.