Muscat: A 28,000 square metre public park, a migratory bird viewing platform, and an arena theatre are among the many community projects recently launched in the northern Omani town of Shinas.
These facilities will be complemented by a three kilometre walkway, 11 family rest areas and barbecue sites, a crossing bridge to help people safely navigate waterways, children’s play areas, green fields for families to relax, and a café. The development works also included the establishment of a park gate, mosque, security booth, toilets and parking lot.
The projects were carried out by the Jusoor Foundation, with funding totalling OMR 345,000 from various sources. Key providers of funds include Sohar Aluminium and OQ, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior represented by the Municipality of North Al Batinah. Jusoor Foundation recently celebrated the launch of four projects as part of the organisation’s social investment programme. The ceremony was held in Al Qurm Natural Park in Shinas, under the auspices of Sayyid Khalifa bin Al-Mardas Al Busaidi, secretary general for governorates’ affairs at the Ministry of Interior.
This event was attended by Saif bin Hamiyar Al Malik Al Shehhi, governor of North Al Batinah, the chairman of the Jusoor Board of Directors, officials in the North Batinah Governorate, and officials of the companies that funded the projects.
The second project was the construction of a park in the mountainous area of Al Hayleen in the Wilayat of Al Suwaiq on an area of 2,000 square meters, which is surrounded by a 320-metre walkway. The park is equipped with children’s rides, as well as a café, toilets and family rest areas, with a social investment of OMR55,000 funded by Sohar Aluminium.
The third project was to provide equipment to clean beaches in the wilayats of North Batinah, to filter, purify and remove all the waste left behind on beaches. This will lead to cleaner and purer beaches, which eventually result in the reduction of the number of injuries and accidents to beachgoers, as well as the reduction of the human manpower involved in the cleaning process. This project was funded with a social investment of about OMR 40,000 by OQ. The organisation also provided and installed 60 recreational rides for public parks in the Wilayat of Sohar with a social investment of about OMR 50,000.
Saif bin Hamiyar Al Shehhi, Governor of North Batina, said, “The Board of Directors of Jusoor met with representatives from the government, private sectors and the local community to take into account projects that meet sustainability and provide public benefit.”
Jusoor Foundation continues to implement other projects under an annual action plan, covering a range of health, education, sports and cultural activities
Al Mutasim bin Said Al Sariri, member of the Board of Directors of Jusoor, and a representative of OQ, said, “These social projects reflect the extent of the real partnership between the government and the private sectors and proves the achievement of social responsibility, as OQ is constantly working to continuously contribute to sustainable development projects, especially those that meet the aspirations of the community.”
Another board member, Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Kharousi of Sohar Aluminium, explained, “The projects launched by Jusoor Foundation are important projects for the community and they have been implemented upon requests from the community, following our deep study of their demand.”
