Kuwait City, Kuwait – Limak Holding has placed great importance on corporate social responsibility, which led to Limak Foundation in 2016, a private foundation established in order to strategically manage Limak’s efforts on social investments. By focusing on education, culture, arts, sports, and the environment, the Foundation contributes to society by establishing various projects in countries where Limak operates in. In an exclusive interview Ebru Özdemir, Chairwoman of Limak Investments as well as the Foundation, explains “Limak’s global investments are two-folds. While we continue our economics activities in different regions across the world, giving back to society and our heightened sense of social impact is a very important part of who we are and how we identify Limak.”

“Investment is not only monetary. The investments we make to the future of our people are more valuable,” added Limak’s Özdemir.

Limak Foundation: A Quest for Purpose, Social Responsibility that Empowers and Nurtures Generations

Limak believes the greatest investment you can undertake is to inspire and empower the young generation to reach their full potential. Limak Foundation’s objective is to tap into this potential and help the youth reach their goals and transform them into capable and qualified individuals prepared to create a positive long-lasting impact in the world. As a result, the Foundation builds its activities based on the principle of nurturing future generations that are education-focused, empowered, responsible, self-esteemed, respectful to the universal values of a reputable society, and who will contribute to solving the social and economic problems that the world is facing today.

In support of women in the field of engineering and serving as an investment to the future of Turkey, in 2015 Limak Foundation launched one of its most profound projects, The Engineer Girls of Turkey. Expressing her pride in the success of the program in Turkey and the inspiration behind the implementation of a similar project in Kuwait, Özdemir added “Limak has offered support to well over 100 students at 30 different state universities across Turkey through the program”.

Kuwait’s Engineer Girls: Encouraging the Youth to Enter the Private Sector

Modeled after the highly successful Engineer Girls of Turkey program, the Kuwait’s Engineer Girls program was first initiated in 2017, and to-date a total of 60 young female engineers from Kuwait University have partaken in the program, 8 of which have accepted job offers at Limak. In partnership with Kuwait University, Turkey’s Boğaziçi University and Limak, the goal of the program is to provide young female engineers with the skills necessary to compete, and succeed, in their future workplace, as well as to help them envision what their prospective careers in the field of engineering.

In line with Kuwait’s National Development Plan and Vision 2035 to transform Kuwait into a successful business and cultural hub, the Kuwait’s Engineer Girls program supports these goals through its engagement with the young graduates and preparing them for work in the private sector.

The Kuwait’s Engineer Girls program covers more than 200 hours of training delivered by professors and leaders in the field of engineering from both Boğaziçi University and Limak. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive a Business Technology Education Council (BTEC) Management and Leadership certificate that is recognized in more than 100 countries worldwide, and three semester credits from Kuwait University.

The basis of the project, she added, is to encourage students towards science with a primary focus on engineering. “A strong and long-term advocacy of the advancement of women in engineering has become, by nature, the initial area of investment for Limak. Our ultimate hope is that young college-bound women will consider a major in one of these fields, and that they continue with their studies and engage in a career that is both rewarding and exciting.” Özdemir explained.

She continued, “This incorporation of engineering education into the ethos of Limak is not only implemented in Turkey and Kuwait but in all locations in which we operate,” Özdemir added, “This comprehensive approach to all of our endeavors is an immense source of pride for all at Limak, and our business vision in Kuwait offers the same clarity, focusing on long-term business partnerships that are fostered by sustainable projects that are beneficial to the community and economy.”

“We seek to create a positive long-lasting impact in all of our projects, whether they are business projects and investments or social outreach endeavors. They all lead to one goal, that is to generate a positive impact for Kuwait and its people,” she concludes.

Limak Holding: A Family of 70,000 Employees Across 17 Countries

Established in 1976, Limak’s work has spanned various sectors, including tourism, cement, infrastructure, superstructure and energy investments, energy contracting, aviation and food. To date, Limak has successfully completed multiple major projects worldwide, valued at over US $10 billion, and is listed on the ”Top 250 International Contractors” list published by Engineering News Record. Limak is also recognized as one of the three fastest growing construction companies in the world by International Construction Industry Magazine.

Limak İnşaat Kuwait S.P.C. was established in 2017 through the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority under the Foreign Direct Investment Law and is an independent subsidiary of Limak Holding. Limak’s completed projects in Kuwait include the first phase of the West Abdullah Al-Mubarak Infrastructure Works which was completed and delivered two months ahead of schedule (2015-2017), and projects in progress include the Infectious Disease Hospital, South Abdullah Al-Mubarak Infrastructure Works, and most recognizably the Kuwait International Airport New Terminal II project which aims to receive LEED Gold Certification.

Limak’s Global Social Impact

Gūlseren Özdemir Special Education School is the largest, innovative special education school in Turkey catering to over 300 mentally or physically challenged students. The 5,000sqm school was inaugurated in November 2018 with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and First Lady Emine Erdoğan in attendance, and is considered an exemplary project which received multiple awards during construction.

Limak’s Junior Engineers Program was established in 2017 to instill a love of engineering among young children through the use of games to explain its importance and how it exists in our day-to-day lives. Within the launch of the pilot project in the Turkish province of Gaziantep, pre-school educators received the adequate training required to host activities for approximately 1,500 students aged 4-6 years old and parent-teacher conferences with nearly 3,000 families.

Limak Airport Services Institute (LimakASI) was established as a social responsibility endeavor in Kosovo in collaboration with Bosphorus University Life-Long Education Center, Pristine University and French Civil Aviation School ENAC. The program merges academic education with the practical training needed for the private sector, resulting in a qualified labor force and a safe, efficient, economically sustainable and environmentally responsible civil aviation sector in the field of airport operations. Upon graduation, students receive certificates recognized in over 100 airports around the world. In total, four generations and 120 graduates have successfully completed the program, with employment offers given to 65 graduates.

Limak Philharmonic Orchestra was established in 2017 by Limak Foundation under the leadership of world-renowned tenor Murat Karahan, and is dedicated to furthering the impact of music and arts in society and strives to introduce orchestra music to the masses by performing well-loved, traditional Turkish music through tours around Turkey. The orchestra has previously performed the timeless songs of Zeki Müren led by conductor Rengin Gökmen.

The KEDS Academy was established with an aim to support the academic and professional development of students in the electro-engineering field, and support local initiatives which promote healthy environmental living and energy savings. Established by Kosovo Electricity Distribution Company, five generations have successfully completed the program which is hosted in collaboration with Boğaziçi University Lifelong Education Center, Pristine University and Kosovo Ministry of Science, Education and Technology. The project was awarded the ‘Best Corporate Social Responsibility’ award at the Best Business Awards in December 2018.

Las Academie was launched in 2019 in collaboration with Blaise-Diagne International Airport, in Dakar, Senegal to provide a solution to the rise of youth unemployment through education and the transfer of knowledge. Currently, 30 scholarship students are undergoing training, learning about resources and obtaining advice in the fundamentals of aviation to prepare for the professional world. In collaboration with Thies University, Ecole Nationale de L’aviation Civile, Bosphorus University, the program awards students with a professional diploma in Airport Management alongside career opportunities.

The Energy Academy of Turkey was launched in 2017 by Limak Energy and Bosphorus University and the Lifelong Education Center. The programme was an exemplary industry-university collaboration that aimed to reduce youth unemployment by offering training and job opportunities to engineering students in the energy sector. Starting from 2019, based on the needs of the sector, the Programme has been modified and an incubation programme (Turkey’s Energy Academy Incubation and Accelerator Programme) for young entrepreneurs and start-ups to help them discover and use their business potentials was initiated. With the first cohort of the programme underway, successful startups will be supported by Limak Energy, energy arm of the Group.

The SDG Impact Accelerator was established in 2018 in cooperation with the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNDP, Limak Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and World Food Programme with an aim to accelerate change-makers including start-ups, spin-offs, and social innovators, by providing a global platform and bridge among various stakeholders. In Turkey it aims to unlock the potential of market-based solutions towards SDGs, especially populations of least developed countries and displaced people.

(ENDS)