KUWAIT:  His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received on Tuesday at Bayan Palace an invitation to the Future Investment Initiative (FII9), to be held in Riyadh October 2025.The invite, which was included in a written letter by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Salman bin Mohammad Al-Saud, was delivered by Saudi Arabia Ambassador to Kuwait Prince Sultan bin Khaled Al Saud. Senior state officials attended the meeting. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Zain Group has launched the summer edition of the Harvard ‘Youth Lead the Change’ (YLC) program at its headquarters in Shuwaikh, designed specifically for the teenage children of its employees. The program was delivered in collaboration with UniHawk, a UAE-based global education consultancy and featured a team of experts from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, reinforcing the company’s vision to provide an inclusive environment for its employees.

Over 70 students aged between 13 and 18 took part in the 3-day program, which offered a motivational educational journey through interactive sessions focused on analytical thinking, solution design, teamwork and the development of community-centered projects. As a regional digital innovation leader, Zain affirmed that the initiative reflects its commitment to equipping the next generation with the tools to create a sustainable impact in their communities. The company continues to place increasing focus on inclusion, diversity, and equity (IDE) to foster a more innovative and inclusive workplace culture.

The program provided a comprehensive platform to gain leadership and entrepreneurship skills.

Interactive activities designed to spark creativity.

Zain described the program not merely as a workshop, but as a holistic platform for acquiring collaborative and adaptive leadership skills, presentation and persuasion techniques, and critical thinking tools to prepare youth to become the decision-makers of tomorrow. Zain’s core IDE strategy extends beyond the professional support of employees within the workplace. It also embraces the broader family environment, highlighting the company’s holistic wellness approach to employee engagement. Through this educational experience for employees’ children, Zain reaffirms its belief that every individual within its ecosystem is a center of impact and development, and that investing in families is an investment in society at large.

This initiative is part of a wider framework of IDE programs launched by Zain Group. The Harvard YLC program represents a natural extension of this strategy, which sees youth as a vital force to be guided toward a prosperous future. Zain continues to embrace numerous initiatives aligned with its institutional IDE framework. Hosting this international program is a testament to Zain’s commitment to implementing global standards across its initiatives. It reaffirms the company’s belief that true empowerment stems from care and support, embedding the values of initiative, responsibility, and positive change within the next generation’s identity.

Launching this program for employees’ children in collaboration with top international academic institutions mirrors the same empowerment pathway Zain offers to its employees. The company is proud to host such distinguished international learning experiences, merging world-class academic standards with its local vision to empower national youth talent. Zain continues to build employee capabilities and upskill them in line with its digital transformation strategy. Notably, Zain’s Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity University (IDEU) has expanded its partnership with IE University in Spain to broaden learning opportunities, including access to master’s degrees.

In parallel with this educational path, the Group continues its efforts under the WE initiative to empower women, accelerate data-driven cultural transformation, and expand women’s leadership in technology. Most recently, Zain launched the NOVA program to upskill over 200 women across its operations in technical fields. Zain places special priority on youth development, as reflected in its recent ZY Graduate Program titled “Generation Z,” which focused on leadership development in strategic innovation and the digital world.

Through the creation of stimulating environments for personal and professional growth, Zain is committed to adopting impactful initiatives that help refine young people’s skills, especially in leadership, innovation, and social entrepreneurship — preparing them to play pivotal roles in the future. This initiative also comes under Zain’s broader Innovation Nation umbrella, which embodies Zain’s long-term strategy to support and empower future generations by offering inspirational educational opportunities to youth and entrepreneurs. It is a reaffirmation of the company’s role as a key driver in building a promising digital future for Kuwait.

KUWAIT: Chairwoman of the Kuwaiti Association for Parents of Persons with Disabilities and member of the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Rehab Borsley, has lauded recent decisions granting persons with disabilities — who are children of Kuwaiti women — lifelong treatment as Kuwaiti citizens. She described the move as a significant victory for the rights of persons with disabilities and a direct implementation of Article 3 of Kuwait’s Disability Law No. 8 of 2010.

In a press statement, Borsley emphasized that these decisions go beyond fulfilling legal obligations, representing a reaffirmation of Kuwait’s humanitarian leadership in the field of disability rights. “Kuwait has long enacted progressive laws that not only ensure rights and protections for persons with disabilities, but in many aspects, exceed the provisions of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” she said.

Borsley underscored the importance of continued collaboration between government institutions and civil society organizations to support and empower persons with disabilities. “We must intensify efforts to provide an inclusive and supportive environment that enhances the quality of life for people with disabilities and ensures their integration as active members of society,” she noted. She also pointed to the global benchmarks set by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of 2015 and the forthcoming Third Global Disability Summit in Germany in 2025, stressing the need for Kuwait to continue its pioneering efforts in line with these international aspirations.

Borsley highlighted Kuwait’s ongoing work to improve healthcare, social services, education, culture, and sports opportunities for people with disabilities, while also strengthening their psychological and social well-being. She affirmed that these efforts aim to unlock their full potential, empower them to achieve self-realization, and create an enabling environment that recognizes them as essential partners in building a “New Kuwait.”