Two of Oman's social entrepreneurship programmes, ‘Ard Alloban’ and ‘Disabled Divers’ have been included in the INSPIRE, collection of selected case studies published in cooperation with vocational education and training, Innovation for Social Entrepreneurship Project co-founded by the Erasmus+Programme of the European Union (EU).
The two of Oman's projects that make an impact to the society found their place in the coveted magazine which also featured 9 countries including Brazil, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Ireland, Switzerland, and Turkey, besides Oman and elucidates the major Social Entrepreneurship Projects that made a difference to the society.
Ard Alloban (Land of Frankincense) is a free hiking social enterprise that is engaged in encouraging the communities to form walking programmes, walking teams and to avail the blissful ample natural blessings.
Founded by Mundhar Nasir Umer al Zaheen, it aims to create and nurture a soul-soothing walking culture. It enables the local communities to lead healthy and socialised lives by overcoming sorts of isolations.
“Social entrepreneurship takes many forms reflecting the great diversity of social entrepreneurs themselves – their backgrounds, their motivations, their aims, and the settings in which they operate. This diversity of experience and practice represents a powerful learning resource, both for established social entrepreneurs in comparing their own journeys and achievements with those of others, and as a source of inspiration and practical guidance for those just setting out," said Peter Totterdill, Workplace Innovation Europe CLG, in charge of the publication.
Oman Disabled Divers, an Inspire Social Enterprise, is a group of people that has dedicated itself to improving the physical and social well-being of the people with disabilities through the sport of scuba diving. This enhances their confidence in life and brings a smile on the faces of their family members too. ODD has been able to brighten up the lives of many people through its aquatic activities conducted by trained professionals and state-of-the-art facilities for disabled divers in the Sultanate of Oman.
Tariq bin Jawad al Khabouri, the founder of the ODD, is a man with dreams of seeing a society where physically and mentally challenged people will be considered effective members who can contribute productively in their own capacities.
“I have always been supporting the disabled people in the society and in 2009, Stephanie Trier and I formed ODD to fulfil the idea of making such people swim. With the support of many like-minded people, schools, colleges, ministries, our dream came true and today, hundreds of children with special needs, autism, cerebral palsy and the like are fulfilling their dreams of swimming with the help of a trained specialist. Having been recognised by such a magazine of global repute, this gives us an impetus to march forward with confidence,” Tariq al Khabori told the Observer.
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