Thursday 18 / April / 2024
Muscat: Maktabati, Oman's first mobile library programme, operated by Dar Al Atta, received a second bus to cover a greater number of schools across the Sultanate.
The customised bus was granted by Oman Society for Petroleum Services (OPAL), to channel funds received from members in support of community projects conceived as part of a new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative being spearheaded by the Society.
Launched in 2007, the Let’s Read Campaign is committed to promoting the love of reading to children in Oman. Maktabati, an offshoot of the Let’s Read Campaign, was rolled out in December 2013 as a mobile library service.
A fully-equipped bus operated under the Maktbati initiative currently tours villages and towns across Oman giving children access to good books at reasonable prices.
Signing the collaborative agreement, Musallam Al Mandhry, OPAL Chief Executive Officer, said: “OPAL and its members are delighted to have financed the purchase of a state-of-the-art mobile library for the benefit of Dar Al Atta’s Maktabati initiative. The culture of reading, while an indispensable part of the learning process, also has the potential to change lives, enhance employability and offer new perspectives – positives that are integral to OPAL’s philosophy as well.”
RAY Automotive, a division of prominent Omani Group of companies RAY International L.L.C, made a significant contribution towards this effort.
Abdullah Al Harthy, Communications Executive Manager, explained: “Based on our experience in successfully delivering on the Maktabati project, which was achieved in close collaboration with our stakeholders, we now see the potential to use this template to undertake similar CSR initiatives on our collective behalf. By inviting all of our members to pitch in towards a common CSR project, we can help conceive and deliver strategically important, medium to large-scale initiatives that OPAL and oil and gas community can be collectively proud of. This is our goal going forward!”
