Talented students, boys (on left) and girls (on right), of the Al-Waha School in Jeddah benefit from the Youth Leadership Program that has been organized for students under the aegis of a local division of Toastmasters International. Students from the school have been nominated for the third time to the Global Young Leaders Conference's prestigious educational events that are sponsored by Congressional Youth Leadership Council. — Courtesy photos Munawarunnisa Nazneen Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — For the third year running, Al-Waha School has been selected by the US-based Congressional Youth Leadership Council (CYLC) to nominate their students to take part in prestigious educational conferences. The conferences are part of the program — the Global Young Leaders Conference, 2012-2013, sponsored by CYLC — that enables independent, educational, accredited, international organizations to nominate some of their best students in the age group of 15-18 to events hosted in various locations in the US, Europe and China in the summer months of every year. CYLC's mission is to foster and inspire young people to achieve their full potential and fulfill their roles as the world leaders of tomorrow by holding intensive and stimulating leadership conferences annually with students hailing from 100 countries across the world, in which they examine the concept of leadership in the context of international issues. “The Leaders of Tomorrow Preparing for the Global Challenges and Responsibilities of Future” is the general theme of the conference. The students focus on various concepts like global communication, diplomatic community, peace and security, interdependency in the world, human rights and the role of international organizations such as the United Nations. In addition to the internal Youth Leadership Program that has been organized for students in Al-Waha School under the aegis of a local division of Toastmasters International, training students for leadership roles has now acquired a global dimension. Youth leaders from Al-Waha are now taking on the world as Global Scholars and leaving their mark as alumni at prestigious, international youth conferences. The selection of students for nomination is a detailed process of compiling and analyzing comprehensive input from their teachers, with respect to academic caliber, leadership potential and fluency in speaking and writing English. Last year, the students that were nominated by the team of senior educators at Al-Waha had the opportunity of participating in either of two dynamic leadership programs — the Global Young Leaders Conference 2012 or the Lead America Conference, 2012. Upon completion of any of these conferences, scholars receive certification that authenticates their participation in the dynamic program of their choice. Participants at the GYLC are recognized as Global Scholars and receive the prestigious Global Young Leaders Conference Youth Leadership Award. Nominees for the 2013 conferences from the Girls' Section: Grade 9: Shuruq Saraswala, Ayesha Abdul Rehman, Alice Ferrao, Syeda Hiba Junaid, Uzma Liyakat Khan, Fabeha Raheel Sheikh. Grade 10: Sarah Shaikh, Ummesalama Rajgara, Rabia Farooq Irfan, Asma Mubashir Hussain, Naila Muzammil Hussain, Sidra Jawed Raihan, Hibbah Irfanullah, Hania Ali Baig. Grade 11: Salma Zacky, Thahfa Thaha, Mariam Aboutaj, Ayesha Ather Mushtaq, Tasnim Ahmed Badruddin. Grade 12: Uzma Riaz, Azaina Shaikh Iqbal, Maria Masood, Sana Nasir Khan, Manal Arif, Sarah Jamshed Alam. Nominees from the Boys' Section: Grade 9: Rizwan Javed Ahmed, Salman Ahmed Malik, Gauthaman Raj Mahesh, Mohammad Zain Sohail, Bilal Mohammad Iqbal. Grade 10: Ahmed Raza, Nameer Rehan Khan, Osama (Mohammad) Sadiq, Shahbaz Khattak Haroon, Faizan Khalid, Zaid Khan. Grade 11: Mustafa Arif, Jasir Al-Qadir. Grade 12: Humayun Babar, Shaharyar Shahid, Amanullah Saleem.
