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Strategic plan of Young Arab Leaders moves into overdrive

The institution of YAL comprises top performers from every sector across the region. The organisation has picked up speed and activated its strategic action plan following a meeting of its Executive Committee in Cairo, Egypt.

Mohammad Al Gergawi said: “Young Arab Leaders look to the future with hope and confidence. This positive perspective underlines the initiatives we have taken. We know what is wrong with our society and we also know how to set it right. This is the basis on which our committee agreed to move forward."

The Executive Committee pledged to continue its drive to boost its membership numbers to 500 under-43s drawn from across Arab society. The organisation aims to identify and recruit the top performers in every sector from every Arab country.

Al Gergawi said: “The Young Arab Leaders will promote champions and role models to inspire our youth in their efforts to create a new and brighter perspective of the future. In line with this vision, the committee agreed on a vigorous agenda of initiatives to realise YAL’s objectives.

“YAL members will come together to develop future leadership in the Arab world. The YAL strives to be a vehicle to involve young Arab role models in initiatives focused on Arab youth development. The organisation also aims to re-instill pride in an Arab identity and to provide young leaders across all sectors, with the opportunity to network and cooperate in action-oriented task forces across Arab borders,” he added.

The organisation's agenda for the coming year is replete with results-oriented initiatives. The first programme will be launched in October in both Amman and Beirut. It is an initiative based on mentorship in which every member of the YAL will commit to providing time and effort on personally mentoring young people entering the member's professional sector.

Another initiative that will be launched soon is a knowledge exchange programme that aims to leverage the expertise and knowledge found in the region by coordinating internships for young people who do not have access to expertise found in another country in the region.

Other programmes on the organisation’s agenda include an action-oriented conference planned for next March to bring together the top performers in every sector across the region to work together on the organisation’s objectives. Also, a task force will pursue all the top international and regional universities to secure graduate scholarships specifically for Arab students.

The YAL will also develop its profile as a ‘Thought Leader’ exerting real influence on issues in the region. The first strategy workshop will take place within the Arab Strategy Forum to be held in Dubai in December of this year. It will draw on expert opinion to develop conclusions on topics of importance to developing future leadership in the region.

The YAL is also launching a strong communication plan to bring youth in contact with young Arab role models in the region in person and through the media. The YAL web site will be launched in November. The committee recognises the value of using technology platforms to facilitate experience sharing among the YAL stakeholders, who include the members, youth and the community at large. The web site will convey its messages in both Arabic and English.

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