RIYADH, 1 March 2007 — The Centennial Fund (CF) signed six cooperation agreements with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to help Saudi youth find self-help projects throughout the Kingdom.
Prince Abdulaziz Ibn Abdullah, consultant to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and president of the Board of Trustees of the Centennial Fund, signed the agreements with representatives from six organizations at the concluding session of the First Islamic Countries’ YBI (Youth Business International) Forum held in Riyadh, Monday.
The signatories among the NGOs included National Board For the Care of Released Prisoners and Their Families, King Khaled Foundation, The National Aid Fund, Orphan Care Fund in Riyadh (INSAN), King Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz Foundation For His Parents For Housing Development and SAMA Airlines.
Participants at the YBI Forum included Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka. Islamic Development Bank President Ahmed Mohammed Ali, YBI Executive Director Andrew Devenport and Centennial Fund General Manager Hisham Tashkandi, who addressed the gathering at the closing ceremony.
In his brief speech, Abdulaziz said that the Centennial Fund has not only helped 200 Saudi youths but also has become a partner in helping youths from other countries through the cooperation of IDB and YBI.
The Centennial Fund which has a ISO 9001 Certificate signed a trilateral Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) 11 months ago, with IBD and YBI ,to assist Saudi as well as youths from other parts of the world to find self-help projects. Describing CF as the first venture of this kind in Muslim countries, the prince said it is designed form a new generation of youth who could stand on their own feet .
Ali said that the IDB has plans to expand this project in all 56 member countries for the benefit of the youth.
The Centennial Fund and YBI are supporting the growth of youth enterprise across the Islamic World.