At the Agility Logistics Park in Tema, Ghana, Agility runs a community vocational training program in collaboration with Oiada International. The program, which began in 2018, provides free vocational and technical training to local students, in electrical work, brick-making and basic IT and computer skills. Between 2018 and 2020, 380 students have graduated the program and Agility and Oiada supported graduates to find proper job placements or internship opportunities. Agility aims to find job placement opportunities for 90% of its graduates, and aims to include 50% females in all its training courses.
In 2021, Agility included Soronko, a local nonprofit, into the program to support 30 women with coding classes. The partnership with Oiada and Soronko is expected to reach more than 300 students through vocational training, including online classes, and job placements by the end of the year to support nearly 700 students since the program launch.
Since 2019, Agility Indonesia has worked with local high schools in need of assistance, donating more than 85 computers and laptops to support digital education and distant learning for nearly 500 students.
The Indonesia office supported Open High School in Depok, West Java, Indonesia in 2019 by outfitting a computer lab with 15 computers at a local high school. Agility Indonesia continued its partnership with the high school, providing 40 additional laptops in 2020 for students to continue their education while social distancing. In 2021, Agility Indonesia located two high schools and offered internet connectivity and 30 laptops for students to be able to complete their education.
Due to COVID-19, school started shutting down worldwide, making it difficult for students to continue studying without any form of digital applications and equipment available. Agility Indonesia donated laptops for students who were unable to afford them, to be able to continue their education on a rotational basis. The students were able to take their national exams and communicate with their teachers while learning basic computer skills.
In a partnership that started in 2019, Agility Brazil collaborated with the Mão Amiga project in São Paulo to support 600 students by setting up a computer lab, donating 66 Chromebooks and video conferencing equipment, and starting a “Google for Education” initiative.
Students were obligated to continue their studies from home in 2020 due to COVID-19. By supplying Mão Amiga with the Chromebooks, the school was able to lend out the devices to students on a rotational basis to support social distance learning. This enabled the students to complete their coursework in time.
In 2021, Agility donated funds to build a science lab and a multimedia room to enhance the quality of the students’ education.
Mão Amiga was founded in 2002 as a civil society organization with a mission to break the cycle of poverty through quality education. They are a philanthropic school, formal and regular, offering an innovative model of education that serves close to 600 students from kindergarten to high school. They are part of an international VIS Foundation network that aims to assist in the management of humanitarian projects.
In 2020 and 2021, Agility Kuwait participated in the mentorship and training of more than 100 students enrolled in the LOYAC ‘KON’ Social Entrepreneurship Program in collaboration with Babson College-Boston, USA.
Agility has supported LOYAC and their multiple programs since 2006, this is fifth consecutive year where Agility has participated in the ‘KON’ program as part of its continued sponsorship of the organization. Agility invests in community initiatives globally, especially when it comes to education and digital literacy programs. The LOYAC’s KON Entrepreneurship program shifted to a digital platform and online learning in 2020 due to COVID-19. Agility employees in Kuwait welcomed students on a virtual tour of its 18K facility in Sulaibiya, over the course of four phases of their program in July and August, each year.
Through this long-standing partnership, Agility has mentored more than 300 students since 2017. LOYAC is a non-profit organization working towards the overall development of the youth. Since its partnership with Agility, the organization was able to reach more than 14,000 students through its programs. LOYAC designs and develops many programs to facilitate the professional development and personal growth of the youth, ages six to 30. KON is a six-week program that targets young adults, between the ages of 12 through 16, and encourages participants to transform their ideas into action, aiming to develop responsible business solutions to our community’s most pressing challenges. By the end of the program, students will be able to present their business ideas before a jury panel, in addition to a professor from Babson College.
Mariam Al Foudery, Group Chief Marketing Offices, says: “As one of Kuwait’s largest companies, Agility is deeply committed to the importance of training the next generation, and ensuring that they have the ‘on the job’ skills they need to succeed professionally. Agility has partnered with LOYAC for more than 10 years. We are deeply inspired by the organization’s commitment and vision when it comes to young people. I’m also inspired by LOYAC’s young students themselves. Our employees had the chance to mentor and work with LOYAC students over the years, and we’ve always been impressed with their brightness, their passion, and their desire to make a difference in the world and for the future of our country. We look forward to continuing to work with LOYAC closely.”
Every year, LOYAC students continue to think to the future and come up with sustainable solutions for their business plans.
Agility Bangladesh supported the Gulshan Literacy Program by setting up internet connection, donating laptops and photocopiers, and training teachers on how to administer online training programs to 500 students practicing distant learning due to COVID-19.
Since 2016, the Agility Bangladesh team has partnered with the Gulshan Literacy Program, targeting 500 unprivileged children attending local schools. Through this program, 12 Agility volunteers usually contribute their time to offer students in two different schools lessons in English, general knowledge, and computer skills. The volunteers would visit each school four hours a week over the course of three months, during the semester; and have reached more than 2,500 students since the start of the program.
The Gulshan Literacy Program is built on the principle of equal access to education for all slum-children and is dependent on donor funds. This partnership aligns with Agility’s vision of creating long-term partnerships to benefit children’s lives through equal opportunity education.
Agility USA employees enrolled in a giving program where they pledge to donate to one or all of three selected charity partner organizations including Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Since 2018, donations went to support the charity partners in their efforts to help those in need of assistance through their various programs, including, PVA’s Veterans Career Program, and vocational rehabilitation counseling. St. Jude continues to provide free treatment, travel, housing and food to all their patients and their families, and WFP provides meals to those with the greatest needs; collectively reaching more than 17,000 individuals since the start of the donation program.
Logistics company donations will fund refugee outreach center and job matching
KUWAIT – July 7, 2021 – Agility, a leading global logistics provider, has renewed its partnership agreement with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to help fund programmes supporting vulnerable refugees in Jordan and Malaysia.
The partnership renewal will support UNHCR’s outreach center activities in Johor, Malaysia, where refugees receive shelter, healthcare, education, skills training and other critical services. The center, which has been supported by Agility since 2020, will assist an estimated 12,000+ refugees, most of whom are Rohingya. Over 50 Malaysian community organizations operate out of the center, which Agility helps fund. The centers provide health, education and other services, in addition to registering and documenting refugees and teaching community leadership and other skills.
In Jordan, Agility’s donation will help UNHCR’s Job Matching programme, linking 180+ refugees with potential employers. Through this programme, UNHCR arranges interviews and places refugees in agriculture and construction jobs or other livelihood opportunities. UNHCR also provides mentorship and career advisory sessions as part of the programme.
Henadi Al-Saleh, Agility Chairperson, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has made an already challenging refugee situation worse. UNHCR has been active throughout the pandemic, working to help millions of refugees around the world, and we’re proud to help populations that are in need in Malaysia and Jordan. Agility has been a long-time supporter of UNHCR’s activities and programmes.”
Dr. Samer Haddadin, Representative of UNHCR Kuwait Office, said, “What was difficult before the pandemic has now worsened; refugees struggle to find steady employment, have limited access to health services and lack access to education. With Agility’s generous support, we will be able to help refugees in Jordan find jobs to support their families, and continue outreach activities in Malaysia, and strengthen community-based protection works by expanding community outreach services in carrying out extensive works on community development, comprehensive case management and strengthening peaceful co-existence.”
Globally, Agility helps those affected by natural disasters and other crises by providing supply chain expertise and resources in collaboration with commercial partners, relief groups and international institutions. In the past, Agility has supported UNHCR’s work in the Middle East, by assisting more than 490 Syrian refugee families (close to 2,500 individuals) through fundraising and donations. To find out more about Agility’s sustainability activities, visit http://sustainability.agility.com.
About Agility
Agility is a global logistics company with $5.3 billion in annual revenue and 26,000+ employees in more than 100 countries. It is one of the world’s top freight forwarding and contract logistics providers, and a leader and investor in technology to enhance supply chain efficiency. Agility is a pioneer in emerging markets and one of the largest private owners and developers of warehousing and light industrial parks in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Agility’s subsidiary companies offer fuel logistics, airport services, commercial real estate and facilities management, customs digitization, and remote infrastructure services.
For more information about Agility, visit Agility.com Twitter: twitter.com/agility LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/agility YouTube: youtube.com/user/agilitycorp
About UNHCR
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We lead international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. We deliver life-saving assistance, help safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place called home where they can build a better future. We also work to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality. We work in over 130 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.
For more information: Raefah Makki Head of Campaign and Advocacy Team, UNHCR [email protected]
Agility, a leading global logistics provider, is partnering with the Kuwait Society for the Handicapped (KSH), the first charitable Society in Kuwait that provides services to children with disabilities from all nationalities at no cost. Through this collaboration, KSH will build the first sensory gym following international standards in Kuwait by the end of 2021.
Agility’s donation will allow KSH to outfit the sensory gym in the “Children’s Rehabilitation Unit” with clinical equipment and furniture designed to improve users’ sense of movement, body positioning, balance and spatial awareness. KSH therapists will be able to guide users through activities intended to increase fine motor skills, strength, flexibility, coordination and body awareness.
“Sensory gyms are important tools for the rehabilitation and behavior modification of disabled youth and adults, it helps to integrate them into society and change their lives for the better, and we’re pleased to be supporting KSH’s plans to build the sensory gym. Agility is committed to helping KSH as it works to improve the lives of more than 500 children and adults with disabilities in Kuwait,” said Agility CEO, Tarek Sultan.
Workouts and therapy at sensory gyms improve users’ communication skills, increase their attention spans, and improve their physical health. The facilities can accommodate and meet the needs of users with a wide range of ability levels and different stages of disability.
“The Children’s Rehabilitation Unit renovation is the first step for the KSH to develop integrated rehabilitation services that support children and youth in realizing their potential and participating in their communities. By upgrading and developing our programs and building new facilities, we can provide individualized assessments, treatments, and health education needed for rehabilitation. Agility is giving us the means to do so. This will support hundreds of people, giving them access to the care they need,” KSH, Director General Dr. Elham Al Hamdan said.
KSH is a private charity established in 1971. It was the first charitable Society in Kuwait to provide free services to children with disabilities from all nationalities. KSH was established by devoted volunteers eager to offer services for children with disabilities and to ease the burden on family and caregivers guiding them towards improving the education and rehabilitation of their loved ones with disabilities. And since its establishment, the Society has continued to provide integrated care and services which include comprehensive rehabilitation, psychological, social, and educational services at its headquarter and daycare centers in three locations, Hawally, Jahra, and Ahmadi.
This partnership is part of a long-standing commitment by Agility to empower and benefit Kuwaiti youth. Agility has decade-long partnerships with INJAZ and LOYAC to support entrepreneurship training programs. Agility volunteers have mentored more than 1,500 students over the years in business skills and other educational initiatives through the organizations’ ongoing initiatives. In 2020, Agility continued to support organizations throughout their shift to virtual online training programs.