JEDDDAH, 30 October 2005 — As thousands of young Saudis get ready to study in the United States on government scholarships, Eastern Province community groups are organizing programs to help them and their families prepare for the challenges that lie ahead.
A great deal of effort to compile a detailed database about the traveling students, and lectures and seminars about life in the United States have been organized.
A community group in the Eastern Province town of Saihat presented a program for more than 100 of the scholarship winners that featured lectures by a religious leader and two Saudi graduates of American universities that explored a variety of social and educational issues.
“The main motivation of these scholarships is education. Always bear that in mind,” said Dr. Nabil Al-Sulail, one of the US graduates. He advised students to establish links between them so that they could meet socially. He also urged them to have positive relations with American society, as they are representing their country.
Students expressed concerns about fear of harassment and personal attacks; they also asked about proper procedures.
An open house for the students and their parents, called “The Country’s Ambassadors,” was another program designed to help student and parents understand the importance of this national education initiative.
“I think these meetings are helpful for a lot of students who have questions that need direct answers from experts,” said Moath Al-Humood, one of the students.
Many similar community-based activities, in towns including Al-Hasa and Tarut, are taking place for young men and women.
Websites also have been created to exchange information between students and to answer their questions and inquiries. These websites include a wealth of information for students about scholarship from applying to detailed description about the states in which colleges and universities are located.
“The organizers hope to utilize the website as a tool to help us communicate with them and link us with our society and friends,” said Kasim Al-Mukhtar, a prospective student.
Although some students and their families are hesitant to travel to the US because of social or security reasons, many others are welcoming this opportunity that will help them in their future lives and improve Saudi Arabia’s relations with the United States.
