A special publication issued by the SWYAA Global Assembly - 2012 • 4th - 8th October 2012

Opening Ceremony 6th Global Assembly

Bahrain had the privilege of hosting the 6th global assembly of the Ship for World Youth Alumni Association (SWYAA) 2012, which was organ- ized by the General Organization for Youth and Sports (GOYS) in cooper- ation with the SWYAA Bahrain. It was held under the patronage of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS) President Shaikh Nass- er bin Hamad Al Khalifa and it took place from 4th to the 8th of October with more than 120 participants from all over the globe. First day marked the opening cer- emony which was held at , and it was also attended by SCYS First Deputy Chairman Shaikh Kha- Bahrain›s ancient civilizations and lid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Japanese for entrusting Bahrain to host this in- history. Ambassador Shigeki Sumi, Social De- ternational event. velopment Minister Dr Fatima Al Ba- He described the assembly as a loushi and other leading figures. unique opportunity that brings youth GOYS President Hisham Al Jowder presented Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Shaikh Nasser inaugurated the as- from all over the world together and Khalid bin Hamad Al-Khalifa with a sembly and he addressed the au- fosters the values of cooperation, un- gift of a dove model that represents dience by emphasizing the impor- derstanding, intercultural dialogue peace. tance of such programs in promoting and tolerance between people. Bahrain youth and developing their The day also included taking the par- leadership skills which can allow Japanese Ambassador Shigeki Sumi ticipants to the Bahrain National Mu- them in building more bridges with thanked the government and the seum and a party that celebrated their peers around the world. people of Bahrain for hosting SWYAA the traditional heritage. 2012 while praising the strong bilat- He also appreciated the Japanese The following days included visits to eral relations and he thanked Shaikh Government initiative in founding several historic and iconic locations Nasser for patronizing the ceremony. such programs that have benefited in Bahrain and several communal The ceremony also featured a a lot of youth, and he was thankful activities. documentary film which highlights 2 3

Choosing the Kingdom of Bahrain and opinions towards various issues to embrace this global gathering that concern youth. comes to confirm and the great One of the main objectives of the reputation of Bahrain at the global program is to promote the country level in the field of youth, gained by host in all respects. Therefore, the continued participation in the Ship for General Organization for Youth and World Youth Assembly confirming the Sports has prepared a program for prominent role of the Bahraini youth in all participants in the assembly to this program. visit historical places in the Kingdom We are grateful to the Japanese as well as visiting landmark places government for adopting the idea that stand out comprehensive of this assembly and choosing development witnessed by the Bahrain to host this edition event, Kingdom in various sectors. which has significant benefits in The assembly comprised seminars terms of deepening the bonds highlighting the experiences of the of convergence and mutual participating countries towards Hisham Al Jowder understanding among young people the youth as well as the positive Goys President of the world and to highlight the effects that were gained from this civilizational achievements of their participation. countries besides exchanging ideas

Bahrain has proven to be on top of people from different cultures and youth activities and that it contrib- exchange valuable expertise with utes in a lot of the global programs them. which are dedicated to develop the We are glad that Bahrain got the skills of the youth, and the country honor of hosting this year›s SWYAA has taken the initiative to make sure which will help many delegates from that Bahraini young people partici- around the world to be exposed to pates in such activities. our heritage and accomplishments. Programs like the SWY help in en- riching the experience of the youth who will take a major role in forming Bahrain›s future as it provides them Eman Janahi with the opportunity of meeting new Director of Youth Affairs

At the end of the ceremony, organ- Final Ceremony izer and volunteers have been hon- A ceremony has been organised to The ceremony started at 7.30pm with oured and a group picture of the par- conclude the 6th global assembly of MCs Zahwa Al Hiddi and Ahmed Za- ticipants was taken. the ship for World Youth Alumni Asso- inal who welcomed the crowds and The delegates appreciated the hospi- ciation (SWYAA) 2012. appreciated their participation. tality of Bahrain and they pointed out It was attended by GOYS Youth Affairs Eman Al Banna, SWY member gave out how useful this experience was. Director, Eman Janahi and Shayma Al a speech representing the association. Oraifi, commitee Vice Chairman. 4 5

Zahwa Al Hiddi Nadia Al Meraisi Food and Accommodation Committee Member Committee Head

I am glad that Bahrain was I was responsible of food and Shayma Al Oraifi chosen to host such a great accommodation. I was very event and we have tried our Committee Vice Chairman happy that I was able to pro- best to provide and care for vide the Gulf Hotel as an ac- every single detail. commodation for the delegates, because the grins The executive committee was divided into different beaming on their faces showed how happy they are It is such an honor for us to host the SWYAA 6th Global the globe which really reflects in the future of these del- sub-committees which worked hard to give the right with the hotel. I had problems with the food because Assembly here in Bahrain after 15 successful productive egates and the youth future in their countries. Each del- image of our country. years of participation in the ship program and over 100 egate will be lucky enough to represent their own coun- I needed to choose places that have the capacity Bahraini participants. try and help developing projects in their home country. to accommodate over 120 delegates and would provide food that is suitable for all cultures. The General Organization for Youth and Sports (GOYS) We believe hosting this event in cooperation with the has been supporting the Bahraini SWY Alumni Associa- Bahraini SWY Alumni Association as a great opportunity I attended two GAs the one in Egypt and Mexico. This tion since their first trip with SWY10 in 1998, and this is to revitalize the SWY experience for the ex-PY’s and re- gave me an experience and an idea of how things all because of GOYS’ belief in the true value and im- engage them voluntary activities, and above all of that work. I believe that the SWY program is a once in a portance of the program’s objectives, benefits and the a great opportunity to showcase the rich Bahraini his- life time opportunity and that every person should strong effect it has on the participants’ personal, social tory, civilization, achievements and unique culture. attend it. I myself have changed a lot, developed many skills and learned a lot about other cultures. I and professional lives. We are really proud of hosting such a global event Budoor Kamal wanted to join SWY since I was 16, and got rejected The program has helped many delegates to devel- which takes part in fulfilling GOYS mission of supporting Giveaway Committee Head in my first attempt, however I didn’t let that stand in op their skills and personalities, and it gave them the the Youth. my way and I applied for SWY20 and got accepted. chance to meet other members from countries all over My committee was responsi- ble was to provide all the lo- gistics of the group by provid- ing t-shirts that carry the logos of GOYS and SWYAA Bahrain and the 6th Global Assembly, and we also provided other things like stationary and bags. I am very happy to be part of making the delegation Eman Al Banna members happy, and it is a way to show the whole Programme Committee Head world how welcoming Bahrain is.

I was responsible of choosing the Layla Al Balushi places that the members will vis- Amal Al Binali Media Committee Head it during their stay in Bahrain. To meet the objectives of the con- Admin Head ference, the places needed to explain the that is why they were I am responsible for delegate services and trans- My job is to communicate with the media and illus- taken to the national , oil museum, Halwa (a portations. I needed to make a reception for del- Ahmed Abdulatif trate what we are doing during the SWYAA 2012 to traditional sweet) factory, and other places. More- egates both in the airport and hotel and make sure the whole world. Treasury Head over, they were taken to Al Fateh Grand to have their departure dates. I am responsible for We take pictures of the delegation visits and activi- and Beit Al to showcase the country’s religion creating schedules, dividing them into groups and ties and then collate these shots and give them to which is and give the members an idea behind transport them between activities. Leaders and the members as a way to remember these beautiful the purpose of Islam and its mentality. assistant leaders were given to each group to fa- Our main goal is to manage moments they experienced during their trip. To show social contribution, they were taken to GPIC, cilitate everything. I am also responsible for putting the budget of the General I am also responsible for the newsletter which gives University of Bahrain, Supreme Council of Women together different giveaways and hand them out. Assembly 2012, and to cre- the whole information of this year›s General Assem- and Elderly centre. In my conclusion,n I would like to thank the SWY pro- ate a system that can show us the amount of money bly. To sum up, I would like to say that it has been an hon- gram for giving me this opportunity to explore my we have spent. I am really happy to serve the participants and show or for me to participate in the making and organiza- potential and take this challenge to work with peo- We also coordinate with other committee in fulfilling them the hospitality of Bahrain. tion of this Global Assembly, because the smiles on ple from different backgrounds. I was really happy the needs of the delegates and make sure of their the delegates faces and their enthusiasm show the to meet by friends from the ship and other people comfort during their stay. clear success of it. from the other ships. 6 7 Ice breaker event The Tree of Life and Al Areen On Thursday the fourth of October, the Bahrain SWYAA 6th general assembly started off with a morning plenary ses- sion in Awal ballroom, Gulf Hotel. The Southern Governorate in Bahrain The main purpose of the session was was generous enough to organize a to break the ice between the 150 del- tour for the participants around the egates who come from 20 different Tree of Life and Al Areen Wildlife on countries, and to warm up for the rest the second day Park to give them a of the program. basic materials and were requested glimpse about the country wildlife. to build a ship that would float. During the ice breaker, the delegates The Tree of Life which is a 400 years old had to participate in three different All of the three activities shared the tree that is surprisingly growing in the activities. The first game was a simple same goals and objectives, where middle of the desert and it’s the only one where the delegates were divid- they all aimed at bridging the gap tree of its size growing in that area. ed into 3 groups and each person had between different cultures, break Later on, the participants were in- to say their name, country of origin existing stereotypes and release any vited by GOYS to the Al Areen Wild- and something special about them. tension present between delegates. life Park to indulge in an open buffet. In the second game, the facilitators Moreover, these activities encour- After that, they were taken on a bus placed tokens all over the room and aged team work, leadership and all throughout the wild resort to see the the groups had to work as a team to aimed at creating a suitable environ- diversified native plants, birds and an- collect as many as possible. Finally, in ment for everyone to be able achieve imals in Bahrain. the last game the groups were given the mission of this conference.

The National Museum, Karting Track in Oil Museum and Bahrain Fort the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) The delegates were lucky enough to dedicated to archaeology and the rain, the Black Gold (Oil) which was experience the life in old Bahrain, and ancient civilization of , while discovered back in 1932. The Museum they got to learn modern history of the the second portrayed the culture and consists of old photographs, drilling island through visits to the National Mu- lifestyle of Bahrain’s preindustrial past. equipment and a working model of seum, Oil Museum and Bahrain Fort. Also, they took a peek at Bahrain’s an oil rig. Bahrain’s National Museum is one of natural history at the third hall which Finally, the group was taken to Qal’at the biggest and oldest public muse- illustrated the country native natural Al-Bahrain also known as the Bahrain ums in the country and it is located in environment. fort and was previously known as the the heart of the kingdom, . The participants were also taken to Portugal Fort. The fort is an archaeo- The Museum displays many collec- the Oil Museum which was built in logical site and it reveals a lot about tions of rich ancient Bahraini archaeo- 1992 and is considered to be one of the history of the Kingdom. The site is logical artifacts and covers over 6000 the most important tourist attractions termed as the Bahrain’s most impor- years of the Kingdoms History. The in the island. Despite the small size of tant site in ancient times because it delegates were taken to the different the oil museum, it tells the story of one shows much of the history of the coun- halls in the Museum. The first hall was of the most important assets in Bah- try in the copper and bronze age.

Participants were taken to the land of VIP Tower. roaring cars and Formula drift at the Many were pleased with the karting Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) on as it was the first time for them to have their second day at the island. such an exciting experience. The event was sponsored by VIVA, a It was also notable that VIVA has pro- telecommunication company in Bah- vided the delegates on their first day rain which gave the participants the each with a Bahraini SIM card to help opportunity to drive on karting track, them stay connected during their stay take a look around the circuit, and in the country. enjoy the beautiful scenery from the 8 9

en the opportunity to put on some “Hen- An Arabian na” which in ancient times used to dye skin, hair, finger nails, leather and wool. Post program and traditional night There was also a horse show in the sta- One of the interesting events was the group known as “Laywa”. They were ble, followed by a presentation of dif- activity conference Traditional night that was hosted on also served by ladies in traditional ferent types of rare breeds of horses October 5th at the Royal Equestrian costumes with “hot milk with saffron” available in the stable. Later on the One of the objectives of the SWY pro- ticipants would host a person from projects make sharing information Stables in Riffa and it celebrated the which is a traditional oriental drink. delegates were allowed to enter the Bahraini and the Arabian theme. gram is to ensure the continuity of another country at their house for a and knowledge easier and would They also enjoyed some local snacks stable, pet the horses, take pictures of social activities even after the ship period of time and then that person create a communication pipeline A tent has been set up next to the sta- such as “Girs Al Sheikh” which is made them and if were brave enough ride program. That is the core reason why would be given a certain type of vol- that will enable EX-PY’s to communi- ble which was decorated with lights of dates, saffron, eggs, flour and them around the place. SWYAA carry the General Assembly is untary work to carry and achieve. This cate from all over the world. and Arabian torches and the del- cardamom,”Kebab”, “LeGaimat” and By the end of the night, there was a to reunite, motivate and remind eve- program is being adapted by Japan, Other programs looked at helping egates were welcomed at the ven- “Khanfarosh”. generous buffet waiting which con- ryone of the important of social activi- Greece and many other countries. ue by a Bahraini traditional musical countries affected by earthquakes Moreover, female participants were giv- sisted of traditional food. ties. Countries such as Bahrain focused on such as Japan, and some programs This year post program activity con- programs that delivered humanitar- looked at helping kids in schools such ference, all countries that participat- ian aid to needy surrounding coun- as the “giving hope” program in Ken- and ed in the General Assembly gave a tries. Donations were sent to Somalia, ya. brief presentation about the activities Arakan and Syria and nourishing food Tamae Saito of SWY10 and IYEO staff that EX-PY’s created after returning to and water was provided. On top of talked about the future plans of the their home countries and explained that, a hospital (Irsal Hospital) was of SWY and that sadly the whole pro- how these activities has benefited the built in the Syrian borders and young gram might get cancelled due to society and how they are planning to doctors and nurses were sent there financial problems and because Ja- further increase their impact. to help the needed. Moreover some pan is paying for the whole expenses The session started off by giving a brief programs focused on helping the which makes it harder since earth- idea of what happened in the SWYAA citizens such as the “adopt a home” quakes have hit the country. initiative in which students went to Ex-PY Conference that took part last However, she further explained that the houses of the needy families and March. Later on country by country they are looking into gaining financial During their stay in Bahrain, the SWYYA helped them by cleaning and recon- stood on the podium to explain how aids from the private sector. group were also introduced to the the- they contributed to their societies af- structing. Finally, during the conference, It was ological heritage of Bahrain through ter the ship program. Moreover, many programs were also announced that Peru would host visiting two of the main Islamic spots locations to show the Islamic herit- the mosque there was a guide who aimed at developing websites and Great programs such as the home- the next SWYAA Global Assembly which are Beit Al Qur’an and Al Fateh age and history of kingdom and explained the goals of Islam and the networks that will enhance com- stay+1 was explained, where par- which will take place next year. Grand Mosque. spread awareness of our religion. In Islamic Culture. munication between Alumni’s. Such Beit Al Qur’an or the House of Qur’an is an Islamic museum that was opened in 1990 and was built to showcase and accommodate an inclusive and Thanks to Wafa & Maysa precious collection of the Qur’an and rare , a concept which is A Sincere thanks goes to Wafa Al Am- unique in the Arabian Gulf. madi and Maysa Al Ansari who are both The Al Fateh Mosque is the largest from SWY 10 which is the first batch ever mosque in the Kingdom, which is built sent to the SWY Program (from Bahrain) in the old Islamic style. The mosque for their generosity in inviting the SWYAA was built by the late Sheikh Isa Ibn Sal- GA group for lunch in the Marina Club. man Al Khalifa in 1987. The delegates were taken to these Wafa Al Ammadi Maysa Al Ansari 10 11

UOB hosts Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Center SWY Participants for Culture and Research and Halwa Factor During the SWYAA 6th GA in Bahrain, around the campus, and they were of the center gave them a briefing the participants visited the University introduced to different colleges and about the center and it importance. Life in old Muharraq was explored by wooden doors and the plaster per- es, participants were taken the Halwa of Bahrain (UOB) to have a further un- centers in the university which in- Before leaving, the participants talked the participants on their fourth day at forated plates. Later on the partici- traditional (sweet) factory of Bah- derstanding of the higher education in cluded Zain E-Learning Center, an with a group of students that have the island. pants were taken to Shaikh Ebrahim rain. In there they explained the dif- Bahrain and get an idea of the univer- electronic center dedicated for the distinguished themselves in the field of They were taken to a tour around the Centre which provided an insight of ferent types of Halwa, how to make sity. The tour started off with the central students. They also went to the Media voluntary work and they shared their old traditional houses and they were the important aspects of Bahraini her- Halwa and how the “Shwaiter” fam- library and background information center which is the first fully integrated experiences in this area which is one able to take pictures and enjoy the itage that ranged from embroidery ily is among the most famous families was presented to the participants. media academic center in the Arab of the objectives of the Ship for World antiquity of old Bahrain. and decorations. The history of the in Bahrain in the making of Halwa. pearls in Bahrain where explained to Participants had the opportunity to Then, the group were taken to a tour World. Dr Maha Al-Rashed, the head Youth. Participants were taken to old house the participants and were taken to tastes different types of Halwa and in of Sheikh Isa Bin Ali Al Khalifa which Bin Matter’s house, the old house of a the end they were welcomed to pur- is considered to be the finest exam- very famous pearl trader. chase some Halwa. ple of in the gulf. Supreme Council They saw the four courtyards, carved After their visit to Muharraq’s old hous- For Women The delegates had the opportunity ing them to the council and on the fourth day to visit the Supreme the role of youth. Later on that council for women in the Southern day, participants were given Governorate where they got to know the opportunity to talk to and the importance of the council and the discuss different matters with role of it in empowering the Bahraini volunteers that worked in the Women. During their visit, a film was SCW. shown for the participants introduc-

Interview with Tamae Saito IYEO Staff Muharraq

I came to Bahrain as a participant thus enable them to open their heart Elderly Society working for the organization. The SWY and create strong bonds. Overall our On the fourth day, a trip was organ- handed out to members where they ident of the local pioneers Project at program creates an environment mission is to raise leadership of young ized for the participants to visit Muhar- had the opportunity to try them on and the Ministry of Social Development at- where the participants can get con- people and enable them to make raq’s Elderly Society where they had take pictures. Above all, members en- tended the event and members were nected, ask questions and share their positive changes in their country. an opportunity to sit and talk with Eld- joyed some traditional breakfast that given an opportunity to ask her differ- thoughts. The ship isolates everyone Regarding the General Assembly, it erly people who have a deep knowl- was distributed by the society. ent questions and have discussions from land, so it creates an internation- revives the international relationships, edge about the . During the program, a brief summary with her to benefit from her expertise. al environment where everyone lives strengthens existing bonds and gives Later on, traditional shows were shown was given to the members about the At the end of the program, members together for a whole month which us an opportunity to meet with other for the members while the Elderly peo- different activities the society carries expressed their gratitude for their visit would create their own space and SWYers. ple had a chance to display their own and the objectives of the society. since they enjoyed their time and products. Also, traditional clothes were Moreover, Ms. Latifa Al Burshaid , Pres- learned a lot. 12 13

Toshio Kuzuma – Cabinet Office This is a lifetime experience that the participants will never forget and will change their lives. The experience will change their view of the world, and it will give them a broader understanding of other cultures and religions. This experience will enhance their communication skills, promote relationships and will train the youth in different aspects such as leadership. Each person is a diplomat that represents their country and culture to other members. With the new skills learned and global mindset developed, members will go to their home country to spread what they learned and try to have a positive impact on society.

Konstantinos Tsigkaras – Greece It is the second time for me to visit The Kingdom of Bahrain. It is a great country and the citizens are the Gulf Petrochemicals best, they are great, kind and very open minded. I would love to come to this country again. I really loved the spirit in the opening ceremony and it exceeded our expectations, I really loved the way the Kingdom of Bahrain welcomed us. It really gave us a strong motive to kick start the program. I believe this is a very Industries Company (GPIC) crucial General Assembly, since it strengthens the leadership spirit in us and enable us to reconnect with people from different kinds of the world and all of this makes us stronger and enables us to apply what we The participants were taken to Gulf simple video was shown to them that den for herbs and medical plants. learned in our countries. Petrochemicals Company (GPIC) to explained the most important prod- Also GPIC has fish and bird farms and broaden their knowledge about the ucts they produce and export since a charity garden which is dedicated firm by making them participate in all the opening of the factory in 1979. for the needy families. kinds of services, sectors, and indus- Later on, they were taken on a tour In the end, they were taken to the Samia Moussa/ Amani Ali (Egyptian) tries. around the factory to see how GPIC GPIC Garden to have lunch, enjoy We didn’t feel like strangers when we landed in the Kingdom of Bahrain. We felt as if we were in our coun- The participants were welcomed by contributes to the environment. their time and end the time. tries because of the comfort that we felt, the generosity and hospitality made us feel home. The Opening President Abdulrahman Jawahery One of their projects is the Shaikha Ceremony was great and enormous, where we took an idea of the different programs for youth that runs in the kingdom. and the board of the company and a Sabeeka bint Ebrahim Al Khalifa gar- We are really proud to be Arabs and proud to leave our finger prints in the success of the ship. The Youth ship really benefits the youth a lot, and also it is an opportunity for us and Arabs to introduce our cultures to other people. A Final Token of Appreciation Special Andres Norberto – Mexico SWY 12 A week has passed so quickly since the Closing Ceremony of At first I thought of Bahrain as desert with traditional buildings, palaces and . However, when I the GA Bahrain. came I was very surprised and proven wrong. I saw a lot of cities and buildings and realized how devel- thanks oped this country is. I felt like I was in home, everyone was so friendly smiling at me. I was not afraid to talk I hope you are doing well. I would like to sincerely thank you for hosting the 6th GA in Bahrain. to people because they were so friendly. Special thanks and appreciation to: The event proved to be a huge success, and as you have •• probably heard from all the participants, everyone went back ••oil museum home with complete satisfaction and with their deep love for your beautiful country, Bahrain. ••Bahrain Fort As we have all witnessed, people’s affection for your country is something you ••Southern Governorate are not able to buy with money: it is something you can receive by showing your genuine love, welcome and hospitality to the visitors - just like the way you did for ••Al Areen Wildlife Park all of us. Andrzej Szymanski and Lech Skyra – Poland ••Viva Bahrain All of the participants have returned home to be the goodwill ambassadors of your It is not the first time for us to visit the gulf, we went to Oman and Dubai before and we are aware of the country and are now talking to our friends and families about the hospitalities they weather and culture. However, Bahrain has managed to make us feel special because of their hospitality ••GPIC and friendliness. received, and about the beauty of your people and the culture of Bahrain. ••BIC I would like to express my deepest gratitude to GOYS for your continuous support ••Royal Equestrian Stables towards the SWY program, and also supporting the activities of SWYAAB and of the ••Beit Al Quran ex-PYs. To the members of SWYAAB: congratulations on your hard work! ••Al Fateh Grand Mosque You truly showed us the spirit of Bahrain and really made us fall in love with the ••University of Bahrain Bahraini people. Asa Damietsson – Sweden ••Supreme council for woman Words are not enough to express my appreciation, but once again, thank you very much. What made the opening ceremony special in my opinion is that it was held in Arad Fort because the histori- ••Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed cal location itself showed us a lot about the history of Bahrain and it inspired all the participants about the Center for Culture and Research Sincerely yours, deep heritage this small Kingdom carries. Tamae Saito ••Hussian Shwaiter Regarding the visits that we made in the Kingdom I can say it made us relive the history of Bahrain and what Chief of International Division I liked most about Bahrain in general is the traditional clothes. ••Good World Society International Youth Exchange Organization of Japan 14 15

Carolyne Okello – Kenya Bahrain is a great kingdom and the people are very warm and kind and it shows that they love helping the others, this all compensates for the hot weather. About the opening ceremony, it was spectacular and the show was very organized and I loved it. I believe all the youth should participate in this program as I have per- sonally met a lot of people from all corners of the world and was a wonderful international experience. I really do believe that it is a lifetime experience that changes you to the better. I have became a strong person and it development my communication and leadership skills and above all of that I have enjoyed my time.

Dmitry Labykin – Russia This is the first time for me to visit the Kingdom of Bahrain and I would like to thank organizing committee, citizens and representatives of the Kingdom of Bahrain because they welcomed us with love and made us feel important.

Eveline Lefebrve – Canada When I first joined the SWY ship I did not expect that I will be able to fit in so easily with the other partici- pants, especially that they all came from different corners of the world with different cultures and religions. However, once I met them I had the feeling that you feel when you meet a very dear friend that you have not seen in ages and this is what I call the spirit of the ship because in the beginning I didn’t know anyone of them and suddenly I became a very close friend and it was beautiful. I really learned a lot about the kingdom of Bahrain in this trip, about their present, past and future.

Gul Eksi –Turkey The SWY ship teaches you how to adapt to new environment, adapt with change and live with new condi- tions and that is what we experience and it is one of the most beautiful things you can ever experience. Regarding Bahrain, This trip has showed me how developed Bahrain is both economically and culturally. Bahraini’s generosity, kindness and the way they dealt with me shows how developed they are in terms of culture.

Jose Sand – Peru The opening ceremony in the Arad fort was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen, I love the way they connected heritage with technology by showing projecting a video on the fort itself that explains the heritage and culture of Bahrain. Honestly, this wasn’t my first visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain, however, from the last time I have been here, I can clearly see the vast development and improvement.

Kentaro Kubo – Japan It is a really good feeling to be here. I really love the weather and the people here are very generous and I adore them. The opening ceremony was very exciting and amazing. SWY has changed my life a lot, be- cause I made new friends. Also I have developed my leadership and communication skills while exploring other cultures. I truly encourage everyone to try this opportunity.

Alberto – Spain In my opinion, the support of the Royal family for these kind of activities is something rarely found in other countries and it is a beautiful thing to find it in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This gives the youth the momentum needed to give back to their countries with all what they have of energy. 16

Head Of Media Committee: Layla Albalushi Edit: Bushra Alsayegh Reporter: Ali Sater - Noor Almansoori - Fatima Majdhi - Tahera Fadhel Photography: Jafeer Ali - Fatima Boujri - Hassan A.Ameer - Salem Almansori - Osama Albalushi - Abdul Aziz AlQasim Film Team: Yara Alawdhi - Mohameed Almajed - Yusuf Aljafen