LONDON, 5 November 2007 — Any success of the UK-Saudi Youth Forum can be attributed to the quality of the participants. In addition to their scholastic and community achievements, Saudi participants also represented the Kingdom’s diversity and the experiences of young people across the country and those studying overseas. What follows are short profiles of these future leaders.
Lama Alshereef presented the forum recommendations to the Two Kingdoms Conference the following day. An experienced public speaker, her report garnered a standing ovation. Alshereef is a sophomore at Jeddah’s Dar Al-Hekma College. She served as her high school’s student council president and published “Not Me,” a book of her poetry, after graduation. As a college freshman, she opened a store with four colleagues to sell the Gusto line of modern hijabs. She would like to live by the quote: “If you can dream it, you can make it.”
Ahmed Mustafa Sabri, 20, contributed the most on the social and religious issues. He is a political science major who has participated in many conferences, such as the 2005 Jeddah Economic Forum, the 2006 World Economic Forum as well as, the Saudi National Dialogue and other events. Sabri has trained in journalism and done research for the Saudi Arabia General Investments Authority (SAGIA). He has worked for Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commercial Marketing. He loves reading, writing, photography and scuba diving and takes part in Red Sea cleanup campaigns.
Dima Ikhwan, 19, was the group coordinator. A sophomore at Duke University majoring in political science and economics, she is currently developing some work experience at Arab News. Ikhwan is a former student of Effat College in Jeddah where she was chief student representative for foreign delegations.
Hammam Al-Juraid was the official photographer of the group which made him the most popular. He is a student at King Saud University majoring in English literature. He has helped in the organization of events and conferences. His hobbies are scuba diving and acting, and he has acted in several plays and participated in many television programs. Al-Juraid took his intermediate education in the US and in 1999 represented Saudi Arabia and Muslim youth at a US counterterrorism conference. He also participated in the 2003 satellite communication conference for gifted Saudi and Japanese students. He has worked with several corporate magazines and local newspapers and is a member of the King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue youth committee.
Sara Almaeena, 19, was the friendly face who helped break the ice between the two groups. A marketing major at the College of Business Administration, she has also studied at St. Louis University in Madrid. She speaks Arabic, English, French and Spanish. She is the company coordinator for Jeddah United Sports Company, a sports company that organizes sports training and tournaments for both boys and girls in Jeddah. She has participated in an outreach program to build bridges of friendship with the American people in the state of Tennessee. She enjoys reading and traveling, and her dream is to be a voice for peace in the world.
Sultan Mohammed Al-Musallam, 18, was the humorous energizer behind the team. A senior student at Riyadh’s Najd National School, he hopes to study electrical engineering at Dhahran’s King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. He is the editor of his school’s newspaper and has taken part in many TV programs for the youth. He also has participated in National Day events and programs about moderation in Islam.
Layla Alnahdi was the cool participant with a big heart. She is a student at Dar Al-Hekma College majoring in management information systems. She expects to graduate in February. She was elected as the president of student government for the year 2006-2007. Alnahdi has devoted herself to volunteer work since she was a child, and she is a board member for many nonprofit organizations. She founded the popular Izati Islami youth group in Jeddah and has participated in international youth camps and conferences.
Rawaa Bakhsh, 20, was the charming conversationalist. She is a junior at Dar Al-Hekma College majoring in graphic design. She also serves as a board member of Izati Islami and is involved in many student activities in Jeddah. She is a volunteer in community service programs and charity work. Bakhsh has attended international conferences and participated in international humanitarian programs. She is a member of the “I Matter” youth television program and is a member of the college basketball team.
Faisal Aldahash, 19, was a serious contributor. He is a first-year medical student at King Saud University in Riyadh. He also works as a volunteer at King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue. His hobbies include reading, calligraphy, camping, swimming and traveling.
Sulaf Aljindan, 22, was a lively participant with a warm smile. A graduate of King Saud University, she is pursuing a master’s degree in political science at the University of Manchester. She has taken creative-writing courses and enjoys writing articles and short stories. Her hobbies include bowling, volleyball, running, and she likes traveling. She is interested in classical literature and history.
Mohammad Faisal Mubarak, 18, was the pious friend of the whole group. He was born in the American city of Seattle and is now a freshman at King Saud University He is enrolled in the Unified Program of Health Colleges. He takes part in several youth and academic activities, such as the Worldwide Chemistry Olympics. He loves sports and is involved in community service programs.
The students, along with their British counterparts, demonstrate the intelligence of this new generation. They also show that Saudi students show great promise and potential to help lead this country — and the world — to a future of prosperity, tolerance and understanding.