DUSHANBE, June 14, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Vocational cooking training for 15 persons with disabilities (PWDs)  and  their  family  members  were successfully completed  and  the  graduation  ceremony  was  held  at Dushanbe  Serena  Hotel  on June 12, 2013.

According to the Country Office of the Association for Aid and Relief (AAR) in Tajikistan, all  the  participants, originally participated in a vocational cooking  course by  AAR  Japan with  financial  support  from Japan  International  Cooperation  Foundation, received further training on bakery,  preparing salad and main meals from chefs  of Dushanbe  Serena  Hotel.  One of the  participants,  who has  a  disability  was  also  hired by  Dushanbe  Serena  Hotel.

The CSR  Program  at Serena  is inspired  and  derived  from His  Highness,  The  Aga Khan''s vision  of  “Holistic development  where  organizations  play an  essential  role  in the  provision  of social  services.”

The  CSR  Program at  Serena  is  known  as  SEED  (Serena  Environmental  and  Educational  Development  Program).   This Program underpins  a  broad  CSR  response  in  the  areas  of  Culture,  Environment,  Governance  and  Society.

This program  follows  the  concept  of  an organization  being  a  social  enterprise  where  the  business  needs  are synergized with  social  outcomes.  Serena encourages open and transparent business practices that are based on ethical values and respect for its employees, communities, and the environment.  The social, developmental, and operational activities of Serena are designed in such a manner that they deliver sustainable value to the society at large, as well as to shareholders.

“Now we are moving towards a challenging feature of our corporate responsibility, where,  at  Serena,  the  results  are judged  not  just by the  input,  but  by  outcomes;  the  change  we bring along  with this  world in which  we live through our foot prints, and  the  contribution we  make  to  reduce  the  sufferings  around  us.”

Yoshio Nakaqawa,  Acting  Country  Director commented  that  this kind  of  multi  sector  collaboration  would effectively  promote  social  participation  of  PWDs  in  Tajikistan.

AAR  Japan  is  a  non-governmental organization  and  has  been  implementing  various  projects in Tajikistan  since  2001,  aiming  at  improving  the quality of life of persons with disabilities in the country.