Prince of Eastern Province Sponsors 'Ertiqa' Association Event
Tonight, under the esteemed patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, the Prince of the Eastern Province, His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Prince of the Eastern Province, graced the 'Ertiqa' Association event celebrating its tenth anniversary under the theme "Ashrah w Eshrah" or "Ten and Companionship."
The Deputy Prince of the Eastern Province commended the pivotal role played by the association in environmental preservation through electronic waste recycling. This aligns with the Kingdom's sustainable development endeavors and its commitment to the 'Green Saudi Arabia' initiative. Notably, the initiative aims to shift from waste landfilling to recycling, promoting environmental sustainability and contributing significantly to the circular economy in the Kingdom. Electronic waste recycling stands as a cornerstone of these efforts.
Abdullah bin Abdul Latif Al-Fozan, Chairman of the Board of 'Ertiqa' Association, expressed deep gratitude for the substantial support the association has received, especially the royal endorsement that propelled the association forward significantly.
Since its establishment in 2014, the association has been steadfast in its mission to preserve the environment and foster sustainable digital prosperity. It has achieved remarkable milestones, such as distributing over 81 thousand computers to 2960 beneficiaries, recycling 2300 tons of electronic waste, and dedicating more than 38 thousand voluntary hours to the volunteering oasis in collaboration with SABIC. Additionally, the association played a key role in reducing over 10 million kilograms of carbon emissions.
Al-Fozan highlighted the association's accolades, including winning the Best Work Environment Award in 2022 and the National Volunteering Award in 2023 under the 'Empowerment and Organizing Volunteering' category.
Abdul Hakim Al-Ammar Al-Khaldi, Chairman of the Eastern Province's Trahum Committee, underscored the impactful partnership with Ertiqa Association, particularly in rehabilitating computer devices for various beneficiary groups.
This collaboration led to the signing of a memorandum with the National Committee for the Care of Prisoners, Ex-Prisoners, and their Families 'Trahum.' The memorandum aims to leverage these efforts by providing 2000 computers to specialized rehabilitation centers in the Kingdom's prison directorates. This initiative supports learning, knowledge acquisition, recycling awareness, and environmental protection among inmates, promoting a culture of donation and sustainable benefits.
Al-Khaldi noted the enhanced capacities of inmates in male and female facilities and the support for specialized workshops across reform institutions in different regions, benefitting over 240 computers in more than 15 equipped labs. These initiatives aim to enhance self-reliance, education, skills, and workforce integration for inmates.
In closing, His Royal Highness the Deputy Prince of the Eastern Province commended the signing of agreements and honored partners, supporters, donors, and leaders for their significant contributions in fostering a culture of digital resource conservation, waste reduction, environmental preservation, and improving individual well-being.
