Aswan – HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd. and the British Council celebrated the success of the ‘Kids Read’ programme at the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation, Aswan Heart Centre on Saturday 5 September 2015. ‘Kids Read’ has been encouraging children in 24 schools to take up reading as a pleasurable activity inside and outside the classroom over the past four years. Over 6,000 children and 700 teachers participated in this exciting programme in Egypt alone. The programme is supported exclusively by HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd and developed by the British Council and has been delivered in nine countries in the MENA region.
'We have been delighted to work with HSBC Bank over the past four years on the Kids Read project and the commitment of HSBC volunteers has made each community event a unique experience for all those involved – as a result, hundreds of children and parents across the country have acquired a broad set of life skills that will serve them and their communities well for the future,'
said Jonathan Gayther, Director English, British Council, Egypt.
As a result of the success of ‘Kids Read’, HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd, and the British Council are launching a new partnership called the ‘Taqaddam’ programme, which aims to increase the aspirations of young people, raising their self confidence and self-esteem. It will combine online learning with practical interactive face-to-face workshops for teachers and participants, with an exciting inter-school competition that completes the programme.
'The British Council, as the UK’s cultural relations organisation, is delighted to be working with HSBC Bank on the ‘Taqaddam’ programme, which will provide young people aged between 15 and 16 in nine MENA countries with a set of enduring skills that they will need to be more successful and better prepared for the transition from school into adult life and the choices they will be faced with. ‘Taqaddam’ builds on existing successful collaboration with HSBC ‘Kids Read’ and we are looking forward to building on that success with our UK partners, Spark + Mettle', said Gail Campbell, Regional Director Education, British Council, Middle East and North Africa.
Jacques-Emmanuel Blanchet, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Bank Egypt added, “Our partnership with the British Council delivering Kids Read continues to be a great success. The programme supports our primary corporate sustainability objectives, around education and the environment, as we believe strongly that education is crucial to the development and prosperity of a country. We are proud to continue supporting this initiative and expanding our association with the British Council to launch the new ‘Taqaddam’ programme this year.”
As well as supporting the programme financially, HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd encouraged its staff to support community events through its volunteer programme. Staff from different departments across HSBC Bank Egypt, and from the Aswan Heart Centre, were involved in delivering storytelling sessions, arts and crafts activities and took an active role throughout, engaging both with children, their parents and the teachers of participating schools. For the volunteers, it was a challenging but rewarding opportunity to give back to their community.
''Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation would like to thank British Council in Egypt and HSBC for this outstanding initiative, 'Kids Read’ that will help us to touch more hearts than ever imagined'', said Anissa Hassouna, Executive Director, Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation.
For further information please contact: Ola Tanani, Corporate Communications Manager, British Council Egypt, Tel: +(202) 3300 1851, Email: information@britishcouncil.org.eg