Awareness and interest in social responsibility programs have increased in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the private sector, where companies, institutions, and philanthropists play a significant social role in various volunteer and charitable activities to achieve community cohesion and social solidarity. Currently, there is competition and a rush in this field, and as the company progresses in its sales, profits, and management quality, it is accompanied by excellence in social responsibility programs. Abdullah Al-Othaim Markets places great importance on social responsibility programs and offers many meaningful and ongoing initiatives across various fields, in line with its mission towards the community. The company presents a range of distinguished programs in the field of social responsibility, including:
Founded under the supervision of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation in 1420 AH, Al-Othaim Academy has successfully trained and qualified over 35,000 Saudi youth, benefiting Al-Othaim Companies as well as numerous private sector companies. The academy provides training for young men on programs qualifying them for work in the retail sector, including sales accounting, customer service, sales skills, branch supervisors, custodians, customer service representatives, and shelf organizers. The women’s center offers programs such as life planning, leadership skills, starting a small business, and the seven habits, along with various computer skills and personal development training. The academy has also established training partnerships with many charitable organizations in the Kingdom, including a partnership with the charity for orphans (Insan) aimed at training orphans and enhancing their skills for the job market, as well as training and supporting prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families in Riyadh. Moreover, the academy collaborated with the Saudi Cancer Society to train beneficiaries of the society's services and recruit them to work at Abdullah Al-Othaim Markets. The academy also provided training for individuals with disabilities and employed them in the company’s branches.
The "Community Friend" program was launched in 1427 AH under the patronage of the Director General of Health Affairs in Riyadh, in cooperation with the Patients' Friends Committee at the Chamber of Commerce. The company has continued to visit hospitalized patients in several hospitals, presenting them with shopping gift cards from Abdullah Al-Othaim Markets, along with symbolic gifts. This initiative is part of the company’s social responsibility programs, which regularly organize such visits in various hospitals across the Kingdom to uplift the spirits of patients and alleviate their psychological and health struggles. Furthermore, these visits strengthen social ties and brotherhood as encouraged by our noble religion.
In line with Abdullah Al-Othaim Markets’ commitment to instill correct Islamic values in everyone, the company, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs, organized a campaign titled "Honoring Parents" under the slogan:
"وقل رب ارحمهما كما ربياني صغيرا"
This initiative was launched as an advertising campaign aimed at reminding people of the virtues of honoring parents, as they are among the keys to goodness, provision, and happiness, as stated by the Prophet Muhammad:
""بروا آباءكم تبركم أبناؤكم".."
The company conducted a major advertising campaign in newspapers and placed billboards, as well as visiting the nursing home in Riyadh, and efforts are ongoing to activate this campaign.
Our community is blessed with social solidarity among its members, and one of the most significant manifestations of this solidarity is the support given to those in need by charitable organizations. Many of these organizations proactively purchase and stock necessities to deliver them to the needy. However, there have been some observations about this approach, prompting the company to issue charitable cards (Sanaabel Khair cards valued at 100-500 SAR) due to the interest from benefactors and their commitment to donating and ensuring their monetary donations reach the rightful recipients effectively. The company believes it is better to replace cash amounts with magnetic cards that do not wear out and can be reused until the balance is exhausted. The card operates on a barcode system and serves as a practical and smart alternative to cash, allowing beneficiaries to make multiple purchases until the card balance runs out. The Sanaabel Khair card is an important option for charities and philanthropists to provide support to those in need, ensuring that donations are spent on essential needs. The company has contributed to supporting many charitable organizations by providing discounts to them, with discounts amounting to 9,816,061 SAR during the year 2013.
The remaining change donation project is a pioneering initiative that enjoys significant interest from Abdullah Al-Othaim Markets’ customers, based on the noble objectives of the charities and the role they play in serving large sectors of the community. This program is an optional service for customers, where sales clerks present a list of beneficiary organizations from the donation program and leave the customer free to choose the organization. The name of the beneficiary organization, the donation amount, and the total amount received by the organization are then noted on the purchase invoice. Currently, 15 organizations across the Kingdom benefit from this program, which has seen a total donation of approximately 8 million SAR since its launch.
Abdullah Al-Othaim Markets inaugurated the (Al-Othaim Center for Smoking Cessation) in Riyadh under the supervision of the Charitable Society for Smoking Cessation. This initiative aims to reduce smoking prevalence and assist smokers in quitting. The center contributes to protecting all segments of society from the adverse effects of passive smoking by intensifying awareness campaigns about the harms of smoking and encouraging cessation. Furthermore, the center provides therapeutic services to smokers, helping them quit and maintain their commitment. The center conducts various studies and statistics related to finding appropriate solutions to combat this harmful societal issue.
Abdullah Al-Othaim Markets prints special waste bags for use inside cars with the slogan: "Keep Your City Clean for You... So Help by Not Throwing Waste from Your Car," to enhance its participation in community service. This idea initially launched in collaboration with the General Cleanliness Department of the Riyadh Municipality and has since expanded to other regions like Al-Qassim, Al-Ahsa, and Dammam.
Abdullah Al-Othaim Markets participates in the awareness campaign for the cleanliness of the terrestrial environment (the second million square meter cleanliness campaign) organized annually by the Riyadh Municipality under the slogan (A Land Without Waste). This initiative aims to raise social awareness of the importance of environmental cleanliness and to cultivate a love for teamwork while enhancing the value of voluntary work in the community.