Oman's Wiyakum volunteer initiative to attract 4,000 volunteers in 2016

Muscat: After a successful first year, Wiyakum, a volunteering programme sponsored by Nama Group and Oman Network of Volunteers (Taawon), plans to target some 4,000 volunteers from different parts of Oman, in a bid to cultivate a volunteering culture across the country.
At a ceremony held yesterday, the Nama Group and Taawon signed an agreement to launch the second Wiyakum project as part of the Group’s sustainability programme.
The Wiyakum project will be executed in two parts and include a nationwide competition to develop and implement volunteer programmes that serve the community in disciplines such as environmental conservation, health and safety, economic diversification and other social causes which reflect the Sustainability Policy and Nama Group’s values.
The other part of the project seeks to strengthen the link between Nama Group staff and the community. According to an official at Nama Group, “Last year, more than 540 Nama staff were trained and received their volunteer passports to record their volunteer hours.”
The OMR80,000 agreement was signed at Nama Holding, previously known as Electricity Holding Company, by Eng. Omar Khalfan Al Wahaibi, CEO of Nama Group and Chairman of the Sustainability Committee, and Khamis Said Al Alawi, Advisor of Oman Network of Volunteers (Taawon).
The first year of the Wiyakum programme attracted more than 3,800 participants, representing more than 95 teams around Oman, who were encouraged to volunteer through the Wiyakum competition. Out of the total number of proposed projects, three were implemented, while others remain in the planning phase. One of the projects carried out helped to set up a special library for the blind at Sohar University. Eng. Omar Al Wahaibi, CEO of Nama Group and Chairman of the Sustainability Committee, noted, “This year’s edition has been built around the success of last year’s achievements. The volunteer teams will be encouraged to implement their projects and will be evaluated on the success and benefits realised”.