QCDC opens registration for 3rd ‘Little Employee’ initiative

QATAR Career Development Center (QCDC) has opened registration for the third iteration of its Little Employee’ initiative, a programme designed to provide children with an immersive hands-on experience of a real-life workplace to encourage them to think about their professional interests and future career paths in a fun and engaging way.

The third edition of the initiative by Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), will provide students aged between seven and 15 with practical experience to learn what working life is really like, by accompanying a parent or relative to their workplace and assisting them in their duties.

This year’s edition is promising to be the biggest, most inclusive and most exible edition since the initiative launched in 2021, as registration will be open to participants from Qatar and around the world, and parents will have the chance to take their kids to work in the day that best fits their work schedule and company regulations between February 19 and May 19, 2023.

Parents will have the opportunity to host their children at work and participate with them in the various activities designed to encourage open discussion about their academic and career goals, and to empower them to plan their career path early on.

The initiative is highly exible in regards to time and implementation and employs a unique approach to achieving its goals.

The initiative has been designed to encourage early conversations between parents and their children about their future academic and career goals, which is a vital factor in the career development of students.

Abdulla Al Mansoori, QCDC director, said: “The Little Employee’ initiative is a testament to the importance and necessity of programmes that can foster a career-driven mindset in students. This aligns with our mission to empower parents in shaping their children’s career identity and underscores our belief in the instrumental role parents play in this endeavour.”

By engaging with parents during their workday, students will acquire a range of life skills through observational learning, as Mansoori explained, “The initiative aims to instil in children the fundamentals of working life, helping them develop a rough idea of their future career goals and motivating them to actively plan their career path from an early age.

“As parents, we play a crucial role in creating a suitable environment that supports children in developing essential organisational skills and positive behaviours. Through this initiative, children will learn the value of hard work and gain valuable insights into the world of work.”

A number of Qatar’s most prominent organisations joined the initiative last year and demonstrated enormous support for its goals.

“The participation of these organisations and the efforts they put to encourage their employees to engage with its activities were vital for the success of the initiative and achieving its goals. We welcome the participation of all organisations and companies from the public and private sectors, as we aim to make the 2023 edition the biggest ever,” Mansoori said.

Secretary-General of Qatar Red Crescent Society Ambassador Ali bin Hassan Al Hammadi expressed his gratitude to QCDC for organising this initiative, saying: “Qatar Red Crescent Society, along with other participating state organisations, was very keen to participate in the 2022 edition of the Little Employee’ initiative. The initiative gave us the opportunity to host the children of several staff members and officials in our headquarters.”