Transformative initiative aims to inspire high school students to ‘reimagine energy’
KUWAIT: bp Kuwait in collaboration with IDRAK Training and Consultancy has launched a transformative initiative aimed at inspiring high school students to reimagine the future of energy through STEM-focused innovation.
In a press statement, Mubarak Jassim Aljassim, Chairman of IDRAK, emphasized the importance of corporate partnerships in youth development, stating: “We are proud to partner with bp in delivering this impactful program. It’s part of both our organizations’ commitment to corporate social responsibility and national development. This initiative supports Kuwait’s Vision 2035 by investing in the future leaders of science, technology, and sustainability.”
He added: “After the initial screening, we provided selected students with training sessions on various STEM topics. bp’s team contributed with their technical knowledge, while we supported them in project development and presentation skills.”
Adel Alansari, Communications and External Affairs Specialist of bp Kuwait, highlighted the social investment program’s scope and purpose, noting that the program started with a wide pool of student applicants. After multiple screening phases, they reached a final selection of around 50 students who are presenting their projects today to a panel of esteemed judges, adding “This program wouldn’t have been possible without our social investment partner, IDRAK Training and Consulting, whose support has been instrumental.”
Mubarak Jassim Aljassim, Chairman of IDRAK, and Judge Anar Aliyev, review a project by one of the teams.
Teams from from several schools across Kuwait showcase their submissions to the “Reimagining Tomorrow: Kuwait’s Youth in STEM” initiative.
(From left) Nada ElGhossein, Mubarak Jassim Aljassim, Anar Aliyev, and Adel Alansari pose for a photo at the event.
The initiative, named “Reimagining Tomorrow: Kuwait’s Youth in STEM,” aims to bridge the gap between STEM education and real-world challenges in sustainability and energy. He noted that students were tasked with developing practical solutions in the field of alternative energy and environmental sustainability.
Nada ElGhossein, Director of IDRAK, announced the launch of the program, which invites students from grades 9 to 12 to develop projects aligned with Kuwait’s Vision 2035 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She affirmed to Kuwait Times that they wanted to allow students to apply STEM in a way that directly benefits their communities and the environment.
She added: “The competition received proposals from 22 schools, predominantly private institutions. After a rigorous selection process conducted by a panel of engineers and environmental scientists, where 11 teams advanced to the final round.
ElGhossein noted that among the standout projects were a robotic device designed to collect marine waste, fully coded and 3D-modeled, vertical gardens irrigated using recycled water from school sinks, biodegradable “seed bombs” designed to grow greenery in barren spaces, a product made from everyday waste materials embedded with seeds, transforming litter into plant life, and an educational climate-themed escape room simulating past, present, and future environmental conditions in Kuwait.
She added, “It’s the first program of its kind for high school students in Kuwait. While we often see such opportunities at the university level, this program bridges that gap by engaging younger students in real-world problem-solving.”
She indicated that the initiative also reflects IDRAK’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility while providing professional training in sectors such as oil, banking, and leadership development, its CSR efforts focus on preparing high school students for the workforce by helping them explore potential career paths and societal challenges.
“Our goal is to equip students with the skills and awareness they’ll need when they enter the job market. This competition is one way we help them connect what they learn in school with the real world,” she explained.
The judging panel includes professionals from a variety of sectors, including Mrs. Mona Salem, General ICT Supervisor at the Ministry of Education and Sarah Al-Hubail, Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Zain Kuwait. Anar Aliyev, General Manager of bp Kuwait who was also on the panel stated: “The students are presenting on diverse topics all related to renewable and green energy, all aligned to the UN Sustainability Development Goals.”
He added: “We are judging them based on six categories: relevance to the topic, feasibility, scalability, STEM integration, presentation quality, and alignment to the UN SDG’s, each scored on a scale of 1 to 5.”
Aliyev praised the creativity and depth of knowledge exhibited by the students, saying: “I’ve been following their work online and was truly impressed by their ideas. This generation gives me great hope. These students are the future of Kuwait, and they are the ones who will help transition it from an oil-dependent economy to one powered by alternative forms of energy.”
He added that Kuwait, rich in hydrocarbons, must now look toward a sustainable energy future, explaining that this initiative not only educates but also empowers the next generation to lead that transformation.
At the end of the event, winners were honored, and the first place went to the “Green Horizons” team from American United School. The winning team received a prize of KD 1,000, which they may choose to invest in further developing their project. The second place went to “Smart Sprout” from Al Bayan Bilingual School, and third place to “Sea Clean” from Al Ghanim Bilingual School.
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.”
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
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.
The 56th session of the Arab Permanent Committee on Human Rights kicks off, chaired by Kuwait.- KUNA photos
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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