Kuwait " 2 June, 2010: Gulf Bank today announced that it is the sole sponsor of the Second Creative Forum, organized by the Technical Guidance of Family and Consumer Sciences at the General Department of Al-Jahra Educational District.

The Second Creative Forum, which is being held under the patronage of Professor Moudhi Al-Humoud, Minister of Education and Higher Education on 3 June, aims to improve education by making it more creative and enjoyable.

Gulf Bank's sponsorship stems from its commitment to supporting change and development across the education system. Two competitions were recently launched in line with such changes to help young people benefit from available capabilities, skills and creative thoughts at schools.  "Educational Games' and "Protecting School Environment" help protect and maintain school properties along with their environment, promote a culture of efficiency and instil values of loyalty, integrity, and volunteer work. It is hoped that the results of such competitions are felt beyond the school environment and become an inherent behaviour handed down to future generations.

Teachers as well as middle and high school students are participating in the competitions, where the winners are judged on various criteria including the quality of their presented educational game on a CD, the extent to which the idea of the game was clear, creativity and user-friendliness, and the capability of providing an enjoyable educational experience.

The judging criteria also includes the quality of the presented plan and its execution, whether the plan contains educational, religious, cultural, learning and behavioural objectives, the follow up of the effect of the plan on students, and monitoring of their behaviour through surveys across the school year. A panel of senior directors at Family and Consumer Sciences, school controllers, and directors of school activities will participate in the judging process.

By sponsoring the Second Creative Forum, Gulf Bank's decision to embrace these talents and skills is in line with its corporate social responsibility objectives and its belief in the importance of creating an enjoyable learning environment to encourage more educational and learning concepts within students.  The Bank believes that learning is most efficient when it involves students psychologically and physically, with a goal to motivate them for more participation and sharing.

The Bank recently sponsored, also under the patronage of Professor Moudhi Al-Humoud, the ninth educational "Damaged Country or a Creative Pen" Forum which was aimed at raising awareness on aggressive behaviour amongst students, and the negative associations this presents.  The event, which took place between 5-8 April, included seminars and workshops on negative behaviours and acts and the psychological problems that lead to aggressive behaviour, in addition to finding appropriate solutions to improve and develop the talents and creative skills of Kuwait's future generation.