A series of youth programmes have been announced by AIESEC Bahrain for the coming months.

The Bahrain branch of the world's largest student-run organisation has revealed plans for different projects, including environmental awareness, international internship and community service programmes, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

"Our aims for this year are stronger and our reach is bigger within the universities," said AIESEC Bahrain president Hamad Alghareeb.

"We really hope to co-operate with the governmental sector, especially the Education and Culture Ministries."

Three newly introduced projects are Ripples of Green, Able and Enliven.

"Able is an awareness project we're starting this year," explained Alghareeb.

"It's not just telling people about facilities - it's raising awareness about the disabled students at universities in Bahrain, especially Bahrain University and Ahlia University, who are most welcoming towards them.

"What we want to do is make the private sector that is offering jobs understand that these people are employable and have the skills that any able person would have.

"They are mostly physical disabilities, like young men who are in wheelchairs and have no function in their legs or use canes.

"Throughout the process, we engage Bahrainis to give them the sense of equality and equal opportunity."

Ripples of Green will raise awareness on the importance of protecting the environment among high school students through workshops.

"We're starting in private schools for now and we'll be moving into public schools in September," said Alghareeb.

"After making them aware about the issues, they will work on small projects on what would be their contribution to society.

"It can be planting trees or a recycling model for their school.

"They then showcase their projects in their school and the school itself can implement the projects they like."

They will also be holding a two-week summer camp in May and June for youngsters aged between 10 and 12.

"Enliven will take place either at youth hostels or schools," added Alghareeb.

"We're getting an international trainer from our AIESEC network and we'll have activities in the camps regarding arts, music and language.

"In Bahrain we don't emphasise creativity enough in our schools. So this was a way to develop them from a young age."

The group also aims to send 30 Bahraini students abroad this year as part of the Global Internship Programme in co-operation with Tamkeen, said Alghareeb.

"We send Bahraini graduates abroad for a period of five months to one year," he added.

"When they're back, they have international experience and a working edge in Bahrain.

"It involves a lot of countries, at the moment we have people in the US, Columbia, India, Qatar and the UAE." - TradeArabia News Service