News
Courtesy of the Daily Star
8th December, 2005
Event was held on 5th December, 2005
Kuwait: The Alumni Association of Kuwait organized a symposium at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) on the role of youth in political reform. Both political science professor Dr. Nada Al-Mutawa and political activist Dr. Ahmad Al-Munayyes gave lectures and spoke about the current political landscape of Kuwait and the need for reform.
Al-Mutawa called on youth to be effective in sensitizing society on political issues and advocating reform. She added that if people distance themselves from politics, this will only entrench corruption.
She said that today's youth should try and understand the electoral process and the criteria by which representatives are elected. She encouraged youth to volunteer in the community and contribute to civil society activities. She highlighted Oman as a leading model in fighting corruption in the region, despite its little parliamentary experience. She added that Oman has designed a voting card against forgery and that Kuwait must emulate since it is a leading democracy in the region.
Meanwhile, Al-Munayyes indicated that the Kuwaiti youth faces a new challenge regarding its contribution in the political arena. He underscored their pivotal role in civic education in light of the endemic corruption plaguing life in Kuwait. He decried the loss of prominent former MPs, which he attributed to malpractices in the electoral process. Those MPs, according to him, have immensely contributed to political life in the country.
Copyright (c) 2006 The Daily Star
Courtesy of the Daily Star
6th December, 2005
Event was held on 3rd December, 2005
KUWAIT: On Saturday evening, the 16-5 Committee for Voter Education and Awareness held an hour-long presentation at the American University of Kuwait (AUK). The committee is responsible for an awareness campaign called "Vote 2007" and had a booth on the AUK campus Tuesday and Wednesday of last week as a way to communicate with students and introduce them to the work of the committee, encouraging them to be more active towards the cause. The campaign aims to get youth to register for and vote in the parliamentary elections of 2007.
The presentation included three young speakers, two of which are members of the committee. Dana Al-Mutawa gave a brief introduction thanking and welcoming the students of AUK both for attending that day and visiting the booth the week before. She highlighted the goals and general structure and plans of the committee and opened the floor to the guest speaker, a young Kuwaiti dentist, Dr. Eisa Al-Eissa.
Al-Eissa shared his experience of starting small businesses in Kuwait in comparison to doing so in the United States, where during university he had established a lucrative online business called the Arab Calling Card. He described how simple and seamless it was for him to start a business in the States, where he was literally able to establish the business from the comfort of his own home. In sharing this with the audience, he was trying to urge young Kuwaitis to become more involved in the policy-making of their country to make opportunities more accessible for themselves.
Aziz Al-Enezi, a member of 16-5, also spoke at the event. He delivered a poignant and inspiring speech about the importance of becoming more politically and socially aware. He cited examples of issues that are important to youth, including sports, education and employment, which are all facing different levels of deterioration.
Al- Enezi noted that those aged 21 to 40 make up 61 percent of the population, but unfortunately they are not using their voices and rights to influence policies to benefit them. Awareness of local politics will shape their futures and the future generations to come.
Copyright (c) 2005 The Daily Star
