Outward Bound partners a new programme for young people in Oman to counter the side-effects of Covid-19
The impact of Covid-19 stretches beyond the economy, and has put the spotlight on mental well-being and increased anxiety and depression, especially amongst young people.
As part of its long-term commitment to Oman, BAE Systems has recently announced a partnership with educational training provider Outward Bound Oman that offers support to young people in Oman who have found life difficult during Covid.
According to Deloitte, poor mental health costs UK businesses £43 billion a year, and recently BAE Systems were awarded both a Bronze in Mind’s Workplace Wellbeing Index and a Princess Royal Training Award for their approach to mental health awareness in the UK.
Steve Underwood, Chief Executive Officer, BAE Systems Oman LLC, says “this partnership further strengthens the long-standing relationship between ourselves and the Sultanate of Oman. We have been supporting Oman for more than 50 years, and this is another fantastic activity that continues this commitment.”
This support from BAE Systems will give young people an extraordinary opportunity to boost their self-esteem and the ability to cope with uncertainty and challenge, says Outward Bound Director Mark Evans.
The programme welcomed a visit by Dr Amira Al Raidan, Head of Mental Health Department at Ministry of Health, and Her Highness Sayyida Basma Al Said, the founder of Whispers of Serenity Clinic.
Outward Bound Oman Executive Director Mark Evans comments that ‘a key element in the success story of Outward Bound in Oman is the corporate community who, through their social investment programmes fund Omani young people on Outward-Bound training courses, so developing key life skills such as resilience.
This support from BAE Systems will give young people an extraordinary opportunity to boost their self-esteem and the ability to cope with uncertainty and challenge’.
First established in the UK in 1941, Outward Bound now operates in 33 countries around the world. Oman is the first Arabic speaking nation to set up an Outward-Bound operation to develop and challenge its human resource.
Since being established in Oman in 2009, Outward Bound Oman has delivered training for more than 16,000 individuals.
In 2014 it was further established by Ministerial Decision, and recently the second of three National Training Centres was opened in Muscat. Construction of a third training centre located on Jebel Akdhar will be completed later in 2021.
BAE Systems – is a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company of London – has been a trusted partner to the Sultanate of Oman’s Armed Forces for nearly 50 years and has supported the Sultanate’s economic agenda through a number of education programmes for the next generation of Omanis.