Saudi Ambassador Champions Youth Empowerment at First National Leadership Training Course

Saudi Ambassador to the Maldives, Yahya bin Hassan Al-Qahtani, has highlighted the critical role of youth leadership and empowerment in shaping the nation's future. Speaking at the closing ceremony of a specialized training program, the Ambassador emphasized that investing in the younger generation is a cornerstone of sustainable national development. The training course, held from August 4 to 6 at the Male’ Youth Hub, marked the first time this international leadership curriculum has been implemented in the Maldives. Sponsored by the Saudi government, the initiative was organized through a partnership between the Scout Association of Maldives and the Majeedhiyya School’s First Male’ Scout Group. Fifty participants, aged between 17 and 25, underwent the intensive program designed to prepare young Maldivians for high-level positions and leadership responsibilities. The curriculum, supported by World Scouting and the World Scout Foundation’s Messengers of Peace Fund, focused on essential professional competencies including strategic decision-making, effective teamwork, initiative, and organizational leadership. Ambassador Al-Qahtani noted that the skills acquired during the course would provide long-term benefits for the country, asserting that young people are the primary drivers of growth and innovation. By equipping them with the tools to lead, the program aims to create a pipeline of capable leaders ready to tackle future national challenges. The Scout Association of Maldives has indicated that this event is only the beginning of a broader effort to expand youth capacity. Under the ongoing Youth Leadership and Membership Growth project, the association plans to launch similar leadership camps across various atolls, ensuring that youth from outside the capital also have access to high-level empowerment opportunities.