AlMabarrah AlKhalifia Foundation (MKF) has sponsored Bahraini students to participate in international academic and leadership programs at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Harvard’s Youth Lead the Change initiative, underscoring its mission to empower the next generation.
As part of the Foundation’s Ithra enrichment program, Abdul Rahman Al-Bay and Hamid Al-Khadeer, accompanied by their mentor Abdullah Al-Khadeir, joined the NUS Summer School. The group represented the only Arab team from the Middle East among 70 global participants.
The two-week program exposed students to a variety of academic disciplines through lectures, workshops, and research activities. Areas of focus included artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, electrical engineering, and modern media. Alongside rigorous study, participants engaged in cultural exchange with peers from across Asia, Europe, and North America, broadening their perspectives and building international networks.
In parallel, Bahrain hosted the Harvard Youth Lead the Change program for the first time. MKF supported four Ithra participants: Sundas Obaid, Lulwa Showaiter, Abdul Aziz Salis, and Abdullah Al-Rumaihi. The program challenged students to address pressing social and economic issues, while developing leadership skills through project-based learning.
Each participant earned the “Best Speaker” award, alongside certificates of participation and recommendation letters from Harvard-accredited faculty. Their projects were rooted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on innovation, problem-solving, and leadership in community development.
Commenting on the achievement, H.H. Shaikha Zain bint Khalid Al Khalifa, Chairperson of MKF’s Board of Trustees, described the initiative as a milestone in the Foundation’s journey:
“Nurturing the potential of youth is the most rewarding and impactful investment we can make. The success of Ithra’s participants in global programs underscores the trust our international partners place in Bahraini youth, motivating us to continue opening new horizons of creativity and leadership.”
The Foundation emphasized that such international exposure is vital for preparing young Bahrainis to thrive in a competitive global landscape. By combining academic study with cross-cultural experiences, students gain skills that extend beyond the classroom, including self-reliance, resilience, and global awareness.
Founded in 2011 as a registered non-profit under the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, MKF has built a reputation for advancing youth empowerment and education. Its Ithra program serves as a cornerstone initiative, providing training, workshops, and international exchange opportunities that develop knowledge, confidence, and leadership potential.
With support from UniHawk Bahrain, the initiative also highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration in advancing educational opportunities. By enabling students to access international platforms, MKF aims to shape a generation that contributes not only to national progress but also to global dialogue.
For more information on MKF’s programs, the Foundation can be contacted via +973 17499909, email at ithra@mkfbh.org
