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Two Bahraini girls who took part in Young Arab Leaders (YAL) Youth Round Table sessions spoke to Gulf Weekly about their dreams, achievements and their participation in YAL's youth programmes.
Twenty-year-old University of Bahrain student Latifa Al Shaikh took part in the Sophia Antipolis programme in France.
"I represented Bahrain in July as the Best Talented Student. During the two weeks I learned a lot about scientific technologies and how to make the best use of them," said the commercial and business studies student.
"The participants shared and learned from each others' experiences in this field. We were 18 students from Bahrain."
"The organisers also focused on our presentation skills, judged and criticised our weak points in order to improve them."
In April last year, Latifa also took part in Arab Asia Global Forum which took place in Singapore.
"This forum was very interesting. YAL Bahrain chapter chairman Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa and Euro Motors managing director Zayed Al Zayani were also present. That time we learned about creative building and designing as well as international trade and economy," she said.
Latifa urged Bahraini youngsters to get involved in society programmes and activities. "To become a good leader and gain experience at a young age, boys and girls must get involved in the country's various youth societies. They will gain a lot of knowledge and working skills by doing various chores that will eventually help them in their future working careers," she explained.
"These chores will also enhance their capabilities and confidence in themselves.
"YAL gave me the chance to upgrade myself and meet lots of people from different walks of life."
Latifa loves art and her dream is to open her own gallery.
Aqeela Al Asfoor, another 20-year-old University of Bahrain accounting student, occupies her free time by teaching small children English.
"I have a part-time job in a kindergarten where I teach small children basics of the English language," she said.
In the forum's Youth Round Table sessions, Aqeela was one of the people responsible for organising the sessions, contacting participating companies and making sure that everything was going according to schedule.
"I will be graduating next year from my university and my plan is to go to the US to do the Certified Public Accounting (CPA) studies," she added.
"My involvement with YAL taught me a lot. I have learned to work as a team member whether on a personal or professional level, understand what others need and expect from me and to set my goals.
"There are a lot of ambitious and talented youth in Bahrain but unfortunately most of them lack the extra activities skills and they have no working experience.
"Most new graduates get upset when the employers ask them if they have working experience and wonder how can they be asked such a question since they have just graduated but the fact is that all students, whether in school or university, have around two to three months annual holidays and during this period they can join any society or company and work as summer students to gain some experience.
"It is not impossible to gain working experience when studying ... but the youngsters have to be extra ambitious and hard working."
