Being GYAN’s Arab Region Coordinator for the past 2 years has allowed me to deal with many youth groups and a large number of Arab governments. I was always under the perception that Kuwait would be the most difficult to deal with. Although I am a Kuwaiti, I never found young people who fully understood the importance of establishing a firm, united and growing collaboration of young people in Kuwait NOW.

Having worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Planning, I always found the political commitment to youth causes in Kuwait, but nothing tangible ever followed. Two years ago I had read a piece in a weekly newspaper based in Kuwait about a young woman by the name of Rana Kamshad who voluntarily covered the Iraqi war for the Kuwaiti Al-Seyassah, being the only Kuwaiti woman to take-on this difficult and dangerous task. I called Al-Taleea and they immediately responded to my request for a connection. We met 2 days later and I honestly did not see any prospects for cooperation -I guess it was too early.

One month ago, I received an email from her telling me that she had been recently appointed as the Executive Director of Junior Achievements’ (Injaz) Kuwait branch and that she is also a board member of a newly formed youth entity under the name “Kuwait Youth Organization.” As luck would have it, I returned to Kuwait ten days later and met with their board. I was so intrigued by that dedicated group of young people who were determined to undertake the almost impossible task of working with youth in Kuwait!

Today, I ran a workshop for their board on the history of the international youth movement, WPAY and GYAN’s 5-Level Model on Youth Participation. Although we were a small group (following TIG’s “Guide to Action’s” motto, “the people who showed up are the right number of people”). We were scheduled for one hour and it ended up being for two! I was simply inspired by their questions and note-taking skills. And although those who were present have rough schedules (all being committed to full-time jobs) they remained fully alert and very much active.

As a youth activist I always ask myself, “Is the work I am doing really worth it?” After mesmerizing experiences like tonight’s workshop, the YES is always intensified, and gives me such a strong boost to continue the commitment I have taken to work with youth in Arab States as a part of our collective effort within GYAN International that aims to “unite our efforts for a better world.”

Good Luck KYO in all your future endeavors!