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It’s time to call youth efforts what they really are

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By Ahmad Albarjas

When socializing as a high school student, I often hear terms like “CV-boosting work” and “extracurriculars” used to describe youth-focused efforts. These include volunteering, participating in school clubs and internships, playing on sports teams, and generally being active in youth-led circles. But here’s the deal: The value of such work is often diminished by the fact that many students participate in these activities — not out of genuine passion, but because they feel obligated to. My experience in “extracurricular” circles has shown me that these activities are frequently seen as a burden — something students are expected to do at some point in high school just to earn college credit.

Don’t get me wrong. A strong portfolio of extracurriculars and an extraordinary body of work can almost guarantee an acceptance letter from a top college. But at what cost? Have we reduced these experiences to surface-level checklist items, rather than recognizing what they’re truly meant to represent?

We’ve forgotten that, over the past few years, many passionate youth have gradually turned extracurriculars into opportunities that genuinely make an impact — not just something we’re supposed to do to pad a half-empty resume. We’ve overlooked the real power of our efforts and reduced them to little more than application boosters, rather than meaningful tools to amplify youth voices and show that there are young people who actually care.

A research paper by Duygu Ileriturk, published in the journal Social Sciences & Humanities Open, looked at the history of extracurricular activities in the United States. “The practice of extracurricular activities began in the United States in the 19th century as part of the regular academic program. The first activities were carried out by Harvard and Yale universities according to the professional interests of the students,” the researcher wrote. The keyword here is “interests”. This suggests that the original purpose of extracurriculars was not “resume-padding”, but genuine exploration and passion — quite different from what they’ve become today.

There’s no widely recognized term that fully encompasses concepts like youth volunteering and youth-led initiatives — cause-driven student clubs for the environment, cancer awareness, journalism and more. Not even youth leadership programs or speech and debate competitions fall neatly under any term that truly captures their value. When we try to label this space, we end up with vague phrases like “youth empowerment work” or “community impact work” — buzzwords that sound like they were generated by artificial intelligence. Even the term “extracurriculars” undermines the value of these efforts by implying they’re just something we do “on the side”. To restore the meaning of these activities — and as an ode to truly passionate youth who will always have something to offer — we should begin to recognize them for what they are: Nonprofit work.

Nonprofit doesn’t have to mean institutional, humanitarian or philanthropic. These youth-led efforts are all nonprofit in nature because they aim to do good without profit as the driving force. The money doesn’t go into anyone’s pocket — it circulates within the organization to support its initiatives.

Logically, reframing extracurriculars as a branch of nonprofit work honors what they truly represent. They are efforts driven by passion and purpose, not personal gain. That name — nonprofit — reflects their real intention. Even so, after all that, a pressing question remains: Is passion alone enough to keep nonprofit work alive when the system mostly rewards performance, not purpose?

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Kuwait Commerce Min.: Protecting industrial system is Nat’l responsibility

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 KUWAIT: Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Chairman of the Public Authority for Industry (PAI) Khalifa Al-Ajeel said on Monday that protecting the commercial and industrial system is a “national responsibility that requires concerted efforts.”

Minister Al-Ajeel emphasized in a statement to KUNA following an extensive inspection campaign in the south Amghara scrap yard, to “firmly deal with all violations and encroachments in accordance with legal frameworks where no one is above the law.”

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Al-Ajeel confirmed the continuation of inspection campaigns as well until the desired goals are reached, foremost being is restoring order and discipline to the area and removing all violations and encroachments.

He affirmed the ministry and the PAI’s commitment to cooperating with relevant authorities to continue these campaigns to ensure a safe and organized industrial and commercial environment.

The campaign resulted in the seizure of several violations and closure of several non-compliant units in preparation for taking necessary legal action against their exploiters.

Participating in the campaign was General Fire Force (KFF) Chief Major General Talal Al-Roumi, along with several executive leaders from the PAI. — KUNA

 

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Human Rights Committee session begins with focus on Gaza, regional challenges

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CAIRO: The 56th regular session of the Arab Permanent Committee for Human Rights commenced on Monday with the participation of Kuwait and representatives from Arab states concerned with human rights affairs. In his opening address, Ahmed Maghari, supervisor of the Human Rights Department at the League of Arab States, underscored the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling it a stark indicator of the region’s human rights reality. “We cannot speak of the state of human rights without acknowledging the catastrophic conditions faced by our brothers in Gaza, where securing the most basic necessities has become a matter of survival,” he said. Maghari described the ongoing Zionist aggression in Gaza as a profound moral and humanitarian challenge, noting that the Palestinian people continue to endure daily suffering under constant bombardment, displacement and destruction. He lamented the international community’s continued inaction in the face of clear violations of international law and human rights norms. “The occupying power persists in defying international legitimacy and the decisions of the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the International Court of Justice,” he said.

Held at a time of mounting regional tensions, the session comes amid escalating challenges that directly affect fundamental human rights. Maghari highlighted the Committee’s historic role since its establishment in 1968 in developing the Arab human rights framework both legally and practically, while also fostering cooperation with regional and international partners. He expressed hope that the session would yield effective recommendations to help confront the pressing challenges in the region. He pointed to the rise of conflicts and violence globally, along with the resulting serious human rights violations, as major concerns.

Emerging issues such as the intersection of human rights with climate change, artificial intelligence, and the spread of alien ideologies that undermine human dignity were also noted. “In light of these challenges, we must reinforce our solidarity and collective action to enhance peace, stability, and the security of our societies,” Maghari added. The two-day session, chaired by Ambassador Talal Al-Mutairi, Chairman of the Arab Permanent Committee for Human Rights, will review the General Secretariat’s report on the implementation of previous recommendations up to the 55th session.

Discussions will also focus on Zionist violations in occupied Arab territories, the plight of Arab prisoners and detainees in Zionist prisons, and the issue of the bodies of Palestinian and Arab martyrs held in so-called “numbered cemeteries.” Other agenda items include the Arab Charter on Human Rights and preparations for Arab Human Rights Day, which will be observed on March 16, 2026. Kuwait is represented at the meeting by a delegation led by Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah.— KUNA

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Crown Prince receives Egyptian Deputy PM

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KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received on Tuesday at Bayan Palace the Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Transport and Industry, Lieutenant General Kamel Abdulhadi Al-Wazir, and his accompanying delegation on the occasion of their official visit to the country. The meeting was attended by Kuwait’s Minister of Public Works Dr Noura Al-Mashaan and Egypt’s Ambassador to Kuwait Osama Shaltout.– KUNA photos

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