Corporate for a cause

Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay in Oman is dedicating time and resources to preserve the local environment and help the community by launching two corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Helping hand

The resort has introduced a beach-cleaning programme and English-language classes for local children, which are to be held every week.

During the beach-cleaning sessions, the resort's employees and the local residents gather to clean the coastline, picking up litter from immediate and far-off areas.

Wellbeing in mind

The English lessons have been introduced to help in the overall wellbeing of the local children.

The lessons provide the children with education and an afternoon of merriment. The resort hopes this will go a long way in helping their personal development and careers.

The Six Senses resort aims to offer guests the opportunity to feel one with nature in the beautiful surroundings at Zighy Bay.

For visitors who wish to add a cultural edge to their holiday, the resort offers visits to local villages. In this way, they can get a feel of traditional Omani rural life.

Chance to interact

The two programmes provide the resort's hosts an opportunity to interact with local families.

Such visits also help them establish strong and positive ties with the villagers and keep the local environment clean.

Tara Hammond, the resort's environment and social responsibility officer, said: “Six Senses is aware of the environmental and social impact it has.

One of the ways we at the resort show appreciation for the natural surroundings is through the beach-cleaning programme.

“This not only helps preserve the environment but also sets an example for others, helping them realise the importance of the habitat.''

The officer said the environment was not their only concern, though.

“We consider the local community part of the environment. We, therefore, would like to give something back to society. The weekly English lessons are one of our initiatives with an aim to helping maintain good relations with our neighbours.

“We feel this will be an invaluable tool to them,'' Hammond added.