The organization will be working in 80 countries, its secretary-general told Arab News on Monday.

“We have attracted more than 200 undergraduates from the three main Islamic universities — Imam Muhammad bin Saud and King Saud in Riyadh and the Islamic University of Madinah — to help facilitate 200 youth camps in these countries,” said Saleh S. Al-Wohaibi.

“We were able to make use of the large number of volunteers since it is vacation time. The camps are open to both men and women but they will be conducted separately.”

Al-Wohaibi said that the programs would end on the last day of the current month of Shaaban.

The programs include training sessions, lectures and recreational activities. They will also help participants learn how to coexist with members of other faiths.

“We are trying to make use of the long summer holidays to help these young men and women,” Al-Wohaibi said, adding that the programs have been designed to last for up to 30 days depending on the needs of young people in each country.

He added that non-Muslims are also accommodated, since WAMY believes in peaceful coexistence with other communities. He stressed that the courses were designed by his organization to focus on the current challenges facing youths.

Al-Wohaibi said that the organization would also send volunteer imams to European countries to lead prayers during the holy month of Ramadan.

“This is being done in deference to the requests of some countries in Europe,” he added.

Al-Wohaibi said that he hopes to host the annual grand iftar party on the 19th day of Ramadan.

The secretary-general said this year the organization has been focusing on African countries to implement its Arabic language learning program. “We hope to cover the entire region by contacting universities in these countries and help their Islamic departments enhance their resources and facilities,” he said.

“We have already launched the program in Sudan and it will start shortly in Senegal and Uganda.”

WAMY, a pioneering Muslim youth organization, was formed in Riyadh in 1972 at an international conference attended by leaders and representatives of Islamic organizations in several countries.

While it focuses on its day-to-day work of assisting Islamic youth organizations, it also promotes solidarity and cooperation among youths in the Muslim community.

Through a number of development programs, it strives to help the youth overcome the hardships of today’s world. At the same time, it has been trying to rebuild a world shattered by natural disasters and torn apart by ethnic conflicts.