KUWAIT: Information and Youth Affairs Minister Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud Al-Sabah (right) speaks during yesterday’s press conference.— Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh

KUWAIT: Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah yesterday announced the launch of Kuwait's award for youth excellence and creativity.

The award, the first of its kind for youth in the Arab World, reiterates the state's keenness on youth and their projects, giving priority to their ambition as well as promoting their capabilities as the "country's future and real wealth," Sheikh Salman told a press conference.

He added that the award is also part of the state extensive strategy to prepare a young generation that sticks to national values and be a partner in sustainable development through boosting the culture of creativity and the artistic aesthetic sense.

Sheikh Salman noted that the award, launched by the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs, will constitute an incentive to youth, and reaffirm that Kuwait is doing its best to unleash their creativity. He said that the ministry is highly interested in encouraging creativity and innovation among Kuwaiti youth in all fields, patronizing the gifted.

The newly-launched annual award covers 10 fields, providing an incentive for creativity and developing a favorable cultural environment. It offers youth financial and spiritual support to help them play a leading role in the society, the minister noted.

Ten categories

Meanwhile, the ministry's Assistant Undersecretary for Youth Development Abdulrahamn Al-Mutairi said that the financial value of the award hits KD 100, 000 for 10 categories. These include entrepreneurship; education; media; culture and arts; voluntary work; sciences and technology; sports; boosting health; architecture, urban planning and, housing, and sharia sciences, Mutairi noted.

Only Kuwaitis aged 14-34 are eligible to apply for the award, the first of its kind in the Arab countries. They can apply as of yesterday till 14 January, through the ministry website. Results are to be announced at the beginning of March.

Islamic conference

Separately, Sheikh Salman stressed the significance of the 9th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers in view of time and goals. Speaking to KUNA before leaving for Oman to attend the conference due between November 2-4 in Nizwa, the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2015, the minister, who doubles as Chairman of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL), said efforts need to be exerted in order to build an all-out strategy to promote the role of Islam in serving humanity and fighting extremism.

He called for capitalizing on Islamic cultural tradition in the correction of negative stereotypes about the religion of Islam inside and outside the Muslim world in different activities and sciences. He said the Muslim countries' ministers of culture are well aware of schemes being plotted against Islamic culture.

On the meeting, he said the agenda is full of issues and subjects, primarily a conference bureau, election of a consultative council tasked with carrying out the cultural strategy in the Muslim world and mechanisms for promoting tolerance, moderation, inter-cultural dialogue, amity and peace.

The State of Kuwait, through the Ministry of Information and the NCCAL, has adopted a cultural strategy of action that copes with the requirements of the current and future stages, the minister noted.

The strategy establishes the concepts, values, principles and tolerance of the Islamic sharia, Sheikh Salman said, adding that Kuwait was currently making preparations for a festival marking Kuwait City as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2016 through various cultural activities that reflect the country's tradition and opening up to different cultures and civilizations. - KUNA