In a supportive movement for corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, Apache organized an orphan day at the KidZania area in New Cairo on December 13. The company invited more than 600 children from different orphanages to attend the event, along with Apache’s employees and their families.
This is the second year Apache promotes an orphan day in KidZania. “Our aim is to let the kids have an unforgettable and fun day, while providing them with inspirations to pursue a successful career via job simulation games.” David Chi, Vice President and General Manager at Apache Egypt, told Egypt Oil & Gas.
“We started to support the orphanages with volunteers from Apache’s employees. And today we support more than 70 orphanages with their main needs,” he added.
KidZania bills itself as an ‘edutainment’ experience which aims to teach children about different jobs and career paths. Children can learn about more than 80 different professions – from acting all the way through to working in a supermarket – by participating in fun activities.
Apache hired the facility for the entire evening, and provided the transportation for the children. After volunteers distributed gifts, the children received checks to be spent from the banks located inside the city to have the money to play.
“A lot of kids are inspired as they have the opportunity to go through different professions, which provides them with a vision on what career they can potentially pursue as they grow up. I think that inspiration is really important for them,” Chi pointed out.
Mohamed El-Kady, Project Engineer at Apache Egypt, told us that he hopes the event will be positive experience for the disadvantaged children. “It will make them feel like ordinary children, not orphans,” he said.
“KidZania will provide them with the incentives to decide on the job they want to be prepared for, and such a day will support the children’s ambitions through being in such an experience,” El-Kady added.
The event is part of Apache’s broader program aimed at supporting disadvantaged children. Earlier this year, the company funded a carpentry workshop for older orphans that equipped them with the woodworking skills necessary for them to earn an independent income.
To achieve this, Apache renovated the workshop at the Al Madina Al Monawara orphanage, provided equipment and materials, and assigned a professional carpenter to lead the lessons. These kind of projects will ensure the children “to obtain sustainable skills to move forward,” Chi told us.
In addition to helping orphanages, Apache has set up other educational initiatives. Under the Springboard program, the company has established 201 schools in rural parts of the country in an effort to improve the education of more than 10,000 girls.
“All of this comes from our belief that we give where we live,” Chi said.
“We believe in generating strong returns, not only financially but also socially. That is how we can have a sustainable future and make an impact on the community where we live.”
