“The aim of Rekaaz, founded five years ago, is to engender good values among the youth aged 15 to 25 through songs and lectures,” Badr A. Al-Khanbasi, a member of the group told Arab News.

Rakeeza , with some 600 volunteers in six cities including 100 in Riyadh, was formed five years ago by Ahmed Asiri, an administrator of Al-Andalus High School in Jeddah. Its members are volunteers whose main compensation is the self-fulfillment they derive from doing something good.

Before the show, lecturer Dr. Mohammed Al-Alarifi addressed the crowd about friendship among the youth aged 15 to 25. He talked about the good and the bad things that friendship could cause and cited examples.

“In doing so, he discussed an important topic about the youth,” Al-Khanbasi said.

He noted that Rekaaz theme this year is timely because as the Kingdom’s population grows, more and more Saudis don’t know one another.

“This is exacerbated by materialism brought about by prosperity. As a result, alienation takes place,” said Al-Khanbasi who attended the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran for his BA in Marketing.

He expressed joy over the fact that other nationals were also attended it.

“Although we’re addressing Saudi citizens, the values that Rakeeza espouses and engenders are universal among the youth,” he said. The values highlight love and respect for mother, self-esteem, desire to succeed in life, and responsibility toward society.

Men watched the 90-minute presentation at the ground floor while women watched it from the mall’s first floor. Many other spectators like shoppers watched it from other areas in the sprawling mall.

The crowd broke into a resounding applause when Saudi singer Saleh Al-Yani sang four songs from his albums.

“We look forward to our future presentations during which other singers will be invited to dish out wholesome entertainment to the youth who are our nation’s future,” Al Khanbasi said.

During the presentation, the group gave away books on friendship for boys and girls and CDs of the campaign of Rekaaz this year. “The books illustrated how the youth could gain and establish friendship among them,” he said.

Asked how Rekaaz financed the books and CDs, he said that volunteer-members were able to get funding from private companies. “In return, we use their logos and designs in our books and website,” A-Khanbasi said.

Asked if the group’s members receive any compensation, he said they “all work as volunteers receiving nothing except the ineffable happiness we derive from doing something good for the youth and, by extension, for our country.”

“As we all know, the youth is the future of our country. They are the hope,” said Al-Khanbasi who works as business support manager.

He said that Rekaaz will also present the same program at the Sahara Mall on April 16, at Ghornatah Mall on May 5 and at the King Saud University.

He added that the other cities where Rekaaz has been holding shows to carry out its campaign are Jeddah, Dammam, Yanbu, Taif, and Abha.