Redefining Career Paths: Zain Elevates Regional Disability Inclusion Through GROW Program

Under its disability inclusion vision, "WE ABLE 2030," and aligned with its corporate strategy ‘4WARD- Progress with Purpose’, Zain successfully launched GROW, a pioneering three-month training and internship program welcoming 20 fresh graduates with diverse disabilities. Delivered in Q2 of 2026 across four regional markets (Kuwait, Bahrain, Sudan, and South Sudan), the program established a robust benchmark for professional development of people with disabilities. 

The GROW lifecycle was uniquely structured around four distinct components to bridge the gap between academic education and employment. It began with an intensive one-month training phase and an innovation camp that focused directly on disability confidence, Artificial Intelligence skillsets, mindset transformation, and advocacy through practical training. This was followed by a two-month corporate internship on Zain premises across the four markets to equip participants with unique high-demand skills. Crucially, the program, from the beginning, paired each fresh graduate with a mentor chosen from Zain’s Masters, the company’s Employee Resource Group (ERG) for colleagues with disabilities. This dedicated mentorship component ran continuously across the entire three-month duration, fostering long-term guidance and workplace readiness; for disability, by mentors with disabilities.

Driven by a commitment to redefining career paths, this initiative ensures individual growth remains central to business practices, shaping how talent thrives within Zain. For this reason, essential attributes like leadership were woven into every stage of the program. Upon graduation, participants also received a comprehensive full-program certificate alongside six specialized certificates related to the areas of training they received, which significantly elevate their resumes.

In addition, creating equitable opportunities is a strategic priority of the WE ABLE 2030 vision. By directly aligning with the vision’s Inclusive Hiring pillar, the GROW program ensures that these 20 individuals are thoroughly prepared for the job market through tailored training that recognizes, values, and unleashes their true potential.

Zain celebrated the cohort's graduation recently, and created a documentary to serve as a resource for other companies looking to build similar programs, especially within the MENA region. Watch the documentary here.