The Young Arab Leaders Bahrain (YAL) in partnership with 3BL Associates Consultancy, Bahrain's first social impact consultancy, have launched leadership programme targeting youth with high potential.

A group of 50 Bahraini youth in their last two years of high school will be chosen for the Leadership Bridge Programme (LBP) though the review of video applications to be submitted online from today.

The three-day interactive programme set to kick-off on October 20 will focus on leadership, teambuilding, and creative thinking; and emphasizes ethical leadership through positive social action.

It also offers participants the opportunity to apply their theoretical learning through ‘social action projects’, where participants will design a social enterprise model (using a business model to address a social or environmental issue) to solve issues facing society.

The programme will act as an important bridge between high school and university by honing leadership skills, promoting youth empowerment, and inspiring young leaders to play an active role in constructively shaping their country for the better.

“The youth of today will be the leaders of tomorrow, and it is important for us to establish the appropriate platform to help nurture their leadership skills,” said Amin Al Arrayed, general manager of First Bahrain and YAL member.

“We wanted to target a previously under-targeted segment through the LBP, which will strive to bridge the gap between high school and university to empower decision making during that phase. As a partner in this initiative, I am glad to extend my support and expertise and I look forward to witnessing the fruitful outcomes of the programme.”

3BL Associates co-founder and managing director, Leena Al Olaimy, said: “We’re really excited about catalysing the next generation of change-makers, who will make positive contributions to their communities.”

“The sessions have been designed to unlock leadership potential, and to inspire ethical leadership through social impact. All the programme components are challenging, unique, highly-engaging and fun! The hybrid programme also introduces participants to social entrepreneurship, which is emerging as a key global trend for 21st century in the area of sustainable socio-economic development,” she added.

The LBP will accept a total of around 50 female and male students from both private and public schools, and is open to all Bahraini students in either the 11th or 12th grades, with a minimum GPA of 80 percent, or a B average. For further information and/or to apply, interested applicants should visit the official YAL Bahrain website yalbahrain.org.

The application process involves the submission of a two minute video describing why an applicant is applying to the Leadership Bridge Programme and what they hope to get out of it.

Submissions will be evaluated based on motivation for applying, articulation of content, creativity and originality, passion and ambition, and overall presentation. All submissions must be made before midnight on October 1, a statement said.

Successful participants will receive letters of recommendation from the programme group coaches, they will be included in YAL’s database, and they will be informed of summer internship opportunities with YAL partners and affiliates, it added. – TradeArabia News Service