Bahrain hosts UNDP's youth leadership programme

Manama, Nov. 12 (BNA): The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bahrain has organized the Youth Leadership Programme (YLP) for the first time in Bahrain. The YLP that took place from August to November was part of Youth City 2030 at the International Exhibition and Conventions Centre. The final session was held at the United Nations House in Hoora, where the finalists of social innovation solutions presented their projects to a panel of judges. The Youth Leadership Programme was held in partnership with Microsoft and Bahrain Development Bank. Amin El-Sharkawi, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, said: ""The United Nations Development Programme has launched the Youth Leadership Programme for almost three years in the MENA region, while the programme is being organized for the first time in Bahrain." He added, "The goal of launching YLP is to familiarize the youth with the SDGs and to learn about their innovative ideas and transforming them into profitable businesses. Additionally, we want to tie these solutions to the SDGs and to further develop them into reality. Many of our youth are in need of transforming their ideas into businesses, and so the YLP hosted Bahrain Development Bank to present the first session on the first day to highlight the "Rowad" social entrepreneurship program. The second day, Microsoft gave an insightful presentation to highlight another equally important aspect: innovation in technology." "UNDP has organized the Youth Leadership Programme as part of its mission to connect the youth’s ideas to the SDGs and the Agenda 2030," said El-Sharkawi. More than 20 young men and women participated in the programme, leading to four finalists to proceed to the regional workshop in Cairo, Egypt. During the course of YLP, ideas and innovative solutions were exchanged between the youth and discussions on how to tie them to the SDGs took place. The final projects that will be going to the regional workshop are iTadweer, Kashkool, Sahel Ramps, and EcoArt. These projects address a range of topics including the environment, disability, poverty, and economic growth. The workshop that will take place in Cairo will include many competitors from Arab countries across the region, and will take place in December. The four finalists chosen to proceed to the final regional workshop will represent Bahrain. In conclusion, the organizing committee thanked the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs, Youth City 2030, Bahrain Development Bank, and Microsoft for their support.