Initiatives to promote social responsibility among Haj, Umrah pilgrims launched in Jeddah

JEDDAH: Jeddah College of Technology has launched four initiatives as part of the Makkah Cultural Forum titled “How to set an example,” intended to help pilgrims performing Hajj and Umrah.
“These initiatives include a number of goals that serve the Hajj and Umrah sector and contribute to the improvement of the services provided to pilgrims,” Abdulrahman bin Saeed Al-Sarei, dean of the college, said.
The initiatives include an interactive workshop on Feb. 12, run by experts from the tourism and hospitality sectors in Makkah. “It will discuss a new approach to training in these sectors and present recommendations including improving vocational training in a manner consistent with voluntary participation in these sectors,” Al-Sarei said.
“These recommendations ultimately aim to encourage innovation and improve the efficiency of the Hajj and Umrah sector by 2030.”
The second initiative is a six-month project to paint the roads leading to Makkah’s Grand Mosque in a variety of colors to make it easier for pilgrims to navigate, while the third involves the creation of a map to be handed out to pilgrims on arrival at King Abdul Aziz International Airport during Umrah season.
“The map will include the city’s landmarks and service centers,” Al-Sarei said. “It will help guide pilgrims — especially those who do not speak Arabic — through the pictures it contains.”
The fourth and final initiative, the dean explained, will last for 60 days and “aims to improve the services provided to pilgrims by ensuring the cleanliness of mosques is maintained, to send a message to society about vocational and technical training through voluntary participation, and to motivate the trainees’ spirit of social responsibility.”