Page 17 - SAMENA Trends - October 2021

INTERVIEW SAMENA TRENDS

imposed on the country, all operations their support by backing the government’s with their loved ones while spreading
were shifted remotely with full closure of Covid-19 precautionary and relief plans. awareness on the conditions taking place
stc’s headquarters and branches. Within our CSR framework, we launched within the country. Within the framework
a series of social and awareness of the campaign, stc also visited Kuwait
Employee Training and Self-Development initiatives that focused on supporting International Airport to distribute face
In line with our continuity plan, Human the preventative measures and activities masks, sanitizers, and information leaflets
Resources had introduced online learning in the country within the fields of health, to airport staff, departing and returning
through LinkedIn and other E-Learning safety, and social awareness. During the passengers.
platforms. The team, in collaboration with early stages of the pandemic, stc launched
other departments, ensured that employees a social media campaign that involved “Stay Safe” is another multi-layered
possessed the proper tools needed to influencers, doctors, and other specialists initiative stc launched under its CSR
effectively complete their tasks including within their fields to encourage residents program, which runs parallel to the
collaboration tools, hardware, a secure and citizens to stay home and adhere to Company’s digitization strategy. The first
cloud-based storage, and all else that the government issued guidelines. The initiative under the campaign was aimed
was applicable to their duties. Information initiative helped spread awareness on at reducing the spread of rumors regarding
Technology and Human Resources also the magnitude of the pandemic and the the pandemic, in collaboration with the
developed a mobile application allowing rapidly increasing infection rate within the Ministry of Health, by dedicating a page
employees to perform remote requests country. on stc’s official website with news and
and seek approvals. Additionally, a Virtual announcements from verified sources, in
Application (VAPP) was introduced at Supporting the Community addition to an emergency contact directory
the time to enable stc employees and In another initiative, stc launched its and Covid-19 statistics. Other initiatives
contractors to work remotely from home. “Far Yet Close” campaign provided stc under the campaign included a blood
These initiatives, as well as others, were customers and the working personnel drive, equipping stc branches with safety
all introduced and enhanced throughout staying at Khiran Resort and Al Joan Resort supplies, and distributing hand sanitizers,
the restriction periods to ensure that at Julai’a with unlimited local voice calls to face masks, and other safety supplies
employees were safe and able to complete ease the quarantine protocols set by the to the Ministry of Interior in a gesture of
their tasks in a timely and efficient manner. government. The purpose of the campaign appreciation to ensure their safety while
Now with the gradual return to normalcy, was to allow customers to connect on duty.
we have embraced the developments
within our own digital transformation
journey to instill a performance driven
culture that is built on efficiency. We
have automated internal and external
processes, which have proven to
be resilient during the most difficult
of times.

Q. How has CSR played a role during this
time, and what would you consider to be
the most significant achievements under
your program?
A. We take pride in our extensive CSR
program and consider it to be an essential
program where we can effectively give
back to our community, especially during
times of need. stc values the critical role
CSR played in balancing the impact on
economies across the globe as businesses
of all sizes came together to minimize the
repercussions caused by the pandemic.
In Kuwait, the efforts of the private
sector with the guidance of the Kuwaiti
government helped spread awareness on
the gravity of the situation we were dealing
with, which led to a quick realization by
the population. We also witnessed many
businesses within the private sector show

17 OCTOBER 2021