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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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NBK warns customers about risks of fraudulent online shopping offers

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KUWAIT: In line with its unwavering commitment to fostering financial literacy and empowering all segments of society, NBK continues to bolster its support for the “Let’s Be Aware” banking awareness campaign. Spearheaded by the Central Bank of Kuwait in collaboration with local banks and Kuwait Banking Association (KBA). As part of its commitment to customer protection, NBK is actively educating the public about fraudulent online shopping offers, often promoted through social media. These scams typically feature links to fake applications or websites that lure victims with enticing discounts and promotions.

Designed to mimic legitimate platforms, these fraudulent sites deceive users into providing sensitive personal and banking details — such as account and credit card numbers — ultimately compromising their financial security. NBK urges customers to remain vigilant and avoid engaging with suspicious links, reinforcing its dedication to safeguarding the community from cyber threats. NBK advises customers to exercise caution and avoid being misled by deceptive shopping deals that promise steep discounts. The bank emphasizes the importance of verifying website URLs and refraining from clicking on links from unknown sources — especially those received via email that advertise offers that appear too good to be true.

Furthermore, NBK cautions customers about the risks of saving credit card details on e-commerce websites or browsers for faster future transactions. The bank highlights that such platforms are susceptible to security breaches, potentially exposing stored banking data to theft. The Bank also emphasizes that it will never request personal information via email, text messages, or phone calls. Additionally, NBK warns customers against responding to such messages, as they are often fraudulent attempts to steal banking credentials, sensitive data, or funds.

NBK remains vigilant in monitoring emerging fraud tactics, educating customers, and providing clear guidance on how to stay protected. Through comprehensive awareness materials shared across its digital platforms, the bank continuously emphasizes the importance of engaging only with trusted links and avoiding interactions with unidentified sources. Harnessing its vast communication capabilities, NBK utilizes all its digital channels — boasting the largest following among Kuwaiti banks — to ensure the widest dissemination of the campaign’s messages, effectively reaching the largest possible audience.

Led by the Central Bank of Kuwait in partnership with Kuwait Banking Association, “Let’s Be Aware” stands as the region’s most comprehensive financial literacy campaign. Aimed at empowering bank customers, the initiative delivers essential education on critical financial topics. Key focus areas include practical steps to prevent fraud, strategies for maximizing banking services, and fostering a strong culture of savings and investment. By equipping individuals with the knowledge and tools to make informed financial decisions, the campaign strengthens financial security and resilience across Kuwait’s banking sector.

As a leading financial institution in Kuwait and the region, NBK remains a key supporter of the Central Bank of Kuwait’s initiatives aimed at enhancing financial literacy and promoting banking awareness across all segments of society. The bank actively organizes various educational events to keep the community informed about critical banking issues while also investing in specialized training programs for its employees. By strengthening expertise in fraud prevention and financial crime mitigation, NBK reinforces its commitment to safeguarding customers and upholding the integrity of the financial sector.

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Kuwait unveils Bayraktar TB2

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Kuwait unveils Bayraktar TB2

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Ministry of Social Affairs distributes hearing aids to citizens

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KUWAIT: Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah on Thursday announced the distribution of the first batch of hearing aids to citizens with hearing impairments, following a years-long suspension. The initiative aims to support their daily lives and enhance their ability to communicate and integrate into society. Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Dr Al-Huwailah emphasized that hearing aids are vital tools that enable individuals to lead independent lives and engage naturally with their surroundings.

“This is just the beginning,” she said, noting that subsequent batches will follow to meet all pending requests, with priority given based on the order of application. She also underscored the commitment of the Public Authority for the Disabled to continue providing a range of assistive and prosthetic devices—including wheelchairs and other essential equipment—to empower individuals with disabilities both psychologically and socially, and to further support their integration into the community. — KUNA

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