The British Omani Society granted £5,000 to Outward Bound Oman in 2024. This continued support enabled five field staff to visit and observe best practices at The Outward Bound Trust in the UK, furthering their professional development.
Building on the success of last year's initiative, two staff members were hosted at the Outward Bound Scotland/Loch Eil centre near Fort William, while three others focused on corporate course met with their UK counterparts at Outward Bound Eskdale in the Lake District.
The experience has been invaluable, leaving the team inspired and equipped with new ideas to enhance their performance and the quality of courses delivered in Oman. The Society also recognises the important contribution that Outward Bound Oman makes to the achievement of the aims of Oman’s Vision 2040.
We've compiled their thoughts and feedback below to give you a sense of what they've gained from their experience.
Shaima Al Jahwari
Learned about:
New energizers and some activities that can be used in our courses!
Hard skills of some activities and the way of doing some outdoor activities that I haven't tried before.
Trying to step back a bit and letting them experience and challenge themselves and being there if the situation needs you to interfere!
Have fun and be yourself. You do not have to wear the instructor mask.
“It was worth going to gain and learn about other schools in UK. The experience was amazing and trying to let the participants get out of their comfort zone by doing hard skills and soft skills at the same time e.g (doing zipline would enhance hard skills and letting the participants be in their learning zone). I would like to thank the British Omani Society for giving us this huge opportunity, which widened my knowledge and opened my eyes to new things, as well as gaining new methods in different departments!”
Abdulhakeem Al Hasani
Learned about:
Experiencing new activities, more specifically how to operate the water activities.
I learnt a lot about UK culture, and I also realize that we as Omanis have a lot in common with UK people.
How to run courses and meetings, and how the supporting team operates during courses.
“It was an interesting experience, different environment and culture, and the UK people were very kind and supportive. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to see the beauty of UK environment and have the chance to see how kind people are.”
Mohammed Al Amri
Learned about:
The HSE induction for the activities.
The three stages in activities (Profiling, Training, and Expedition).
The importance of nutrition for pax and trainers.
How to utilize the workspace and be creative.
Their operational systems.
“The training has significantly improved my outdoor activity skills and enhanced my instruction and coaching strategies. Additionally, the opportunity to interact with individuals from diverse cultures was amazing. Sharing the Omani culture with people from other countries was a wonderful experience for us. I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to the British Omani Society for giving me this unforgettable experience.”
Marya Al Aufi
Learned about:
Variety of activities and the way delivering them.
Environmental awareness
Health and safety followed in the courses.
Different models used in the courses.
Logistics methods that are used on OB.
Different roles followed by the instructors and how to deal with clients.
“It provided me with numerous opportunities as an instructor to acquire skills for professional development. I convey my deepest appreciation to the British Omani Society for granting me this invaluable opportunity, enabling the exchange of experiences and refinement of my professional capabilities. This esteemed privilege will profoundly impact my future development and enhance my performance.”
Mazin Al Rawahi
Learned about:
I was inspired by the trainer style in instructing and group management and how to transfer knowledge.
I learnt abseiling, kayaking, wild camping, and canoeing.
I improved my English language skills.
“It was wonderful experience and I learnt a lot from it. Thank you very much for the support and the opportunity to improve communication in English.”
