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Young seek a bright future

October 8 - 14, 2008
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More than 700 students from 108 countries gathered in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo for the conference of AIESEC, the world's largest student organisation, and Bahrain proudly had its own delegation in the famous global village.

AIESEC is the international platform for young people to discover and develop their potential to have a positive impact on society and the 10-day conference was aimed at exploring opportunities for a sustainable future.

The Bahraini delegation was represented by Nada Ali Abdulla, 18, vice-president of business development for AIESEC Bahrain, Mohammed Ali, 22, an AIESEC alumnus, Abdur Rehman Mohd, 20, vice-president of projects and communication for AIESEC Bahrain, and Luminita Crivet, 23, AIESEC Bahrain president.

Nada's attendance was supported by Bapco as part of the company's Corporate Social Responsibility strategy to aid Bahraini youth by helping them have an opportunity to challenge mindsets and preconceptions to become agents of positive change.

AIESEC is present in over 1,100 universities in over 100 countries and territories worldwide and it runs more than 350 conferences, provides 4,400 work abroad opportunities and offers over 6,500 leadership positions to members each year.

Together with a focus on building personal networks and exploring the direction and ambition of their future, AIESEC has an innovative approach in engaging and developing young people.

And its partner organisations, which number thousands from all sectors, look at AIESEC as a way to support the development of young people and to have access to young talent from around the world.

Nada said: "Our partners' support ranges from advisory support, developing and recruiting AIESEC talents to partnering with our key programmes and initiatives, while AIESEC tries to provide the youth with the necessary leadership qualities to meet the opportunities and challenges that they face."

External representatives such as Martin Bean, managing director of education at Microsoft and Vanessa Green, head of Standard Chartered Americas and many others were on hand to lend their support for the conference, which marked AIESEC's 60th anniversary, and offer insights into their working world.

Nada added: "It was a great opportunity and a very enriching experience in many different ways. There was the chance to meet people from more than 100 different countries and discuss issues with them.

"It was also an honour to be representing Bahrain and I feel I improved in confidence and brought back with me improved entrepreneurial and leadership skills."

AIESEC Bahrain currently has 55 active members. It carries out recruitment drives among the student population twice a year with the next one being planned for this month.







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