KUWAIT: (From left) Maha Shehab, Waseelah Coordinator, Abeer Al-Omar, Corporate Communications Manager at KIPCO and Rana Al-Khaled, Proteges’ Mentor attend a press conference at KIPCO Tower yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

KUWAIT: Kuwait Projects Company (KIPCO) held a press conference yesterday at KIPCO Tower to discuss the sixth edition of The Proteges program and its Waseelah project. “The Proteges has proved its success through its great projects, and I am impressed by its quality and work,” said Abeer Al-Omar, Corporate Communications Manager at KIPCO, the main sponsor of Generation 6. Omar noted that KIPCO is keen to invest in Kuwaiti youth and the development of their skills.

Omar announced the renewal of its partnership with The Proteges, a youth mentorship program, for the next seven years. She added KIPCO will host a ‘Job Shop’ workshop at KIPCO Tower where Kuwaitis will have the chance to learn more about KIPCO and its subsidiaries and get exclusive one-on-one time with representatives of each company for job opportunities. Job Shop, which opened later yesterday, was established by Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs.

Passionate and motivated

Rana Al-Khaled, Proteges’ Mentor, said she is proud of the abilities of young Kuwaitis. “It has been a pleasure to know these passionate and motivated young people, and I am eager to see what they will achieve in the future. We are continuing with the Proteges project because we see hope in them every year. They are changing for the better and so are we, and this is why we make sure to develop our ideas as well as our workshop,” she said.

She affirmed that The Proteges program will continue because of KIPCO’s commitment and its group companies that are supporting young Kuwaitis as contributors to the society and as the country’s future leaders. “Waseelah is a platform that strives to raise awareness that all talents are influential, and motivate the general public to express themselves through various forms of art,” said Maha Shehab, Waseelah Coordinator.

Shehab noted that her generation decided to set up this project to develop the youth’s talents. “Everyone has fears and inner doubts about themselves. This suppresses their potentials and abilities to flourish in the outside world and make a positive impact in the society in their own way. “Waseelah” will help them prosper,” she said. “Waseelah held a play at Shamiya Theater that was a mix of all art forms, which satisfied the goal of Waseelah.” The play, titled “The Key of Life”, is considered a first-of-its-kind in the Arab region to revolve around the main maqamat (keys) in Arabic music that was portrayed in a way that delivered a self-expressive message.

Mentorship program

The Proteges is a mentorship program designed to positively influence the youth and push them towards realizing their own potential. It is an all-inclusive program that combines workshops, lectures and games; all guided by a group of the most talented experts and influential figures across multiple fields in Kuwait.

It is a program designed to influence the youth of Kuwait to discover their passions. It includes a wide range of engaging activities such as travel, lectures, collective teamwork and challenges. The Proteges aims to discover extraordinary potential in the youth and develop it through this once-in-a-lifetime experience. They offer these bright young minds the chance to master their skills and techniques that are necessary to meet their goals.  The Proteges selection is based on a thorough screening process ensuring that they meet high standards of excellence. Applicants must meet the following criteria: Age 16 to 24; charismatic, social, disciplined, tolerant, moral, eager to learn, hardworking and demonstrate superiority to peers by successful achievements.

By Faten Omar