Culture & Education | Thursday 17 May, 2018 1:32 pm |

Shell Saudi Arabia is today celebrating the successful conclusion of ValueNet, a 16-week programme in Riyadh which has seen 200 girls, ten of which are from the Down Syndrome Association, participate in games-based activities to develop their social skills and sense of team spirit.

 

First introduced in Jubail in 2015, this year the programme was organized in Riyadh for the first time, where girls from Al-Faris International Schools, Advanced Learning Schools and Riyadh Najd School took part. The programme complements the common goals of the Saudi national Vision 2030 strategy to foster youth development and women empowerment.

 

Aged between 7 and 11 years old, the children received training from 13 Saudi female coaches. The coaches were instructed by the Football Club Barcelona Foundation which designed the progamme.

 

ValueNet is an innovative social skills initiative that Shell has launched in several countries across the Middle East and North Africa, in association the FC Barcelona Foundation.

 

The programmes use a unique coaching methodology to promote skills of teamwork, accountability and leadership among young participants through sports.

 

This month Shell and FC Barcelona are marking the sixth anniversary of the partnership which has seen more than 18,000 boys and girls participate in courses across the region.