Al-Watani Continues Support for 'Kan' Social Entrepreneurship Program in Partnership with Loyaq

As part of its strategic partnership with the Lu’ayaa Foundation, NBK continues to support and sponsor the “Kan” social entrepreneurship program, which aims to develop the entrepreneurial and leadership skills of young people and enhance their ability to transform innovative ideas into projects and initiatives that create positive and sustainable impact in society.

This year, the “Kan” program celebrates its 11th anniversary, continuing its success in empowering successive generations of young men and women and fostering a culture of social entrepreneurship among them. Over the years, the program has solidified the concept of community entrepreneurship as an effective tool for addressing social and environmental challenges through innovation, teamwork, and creative thinking.

The program is the result of a collaboration between the Lu’ayaa Foundation and Babson College in Boston, ranked first globally in entrepreneurship education. It combines the latest global curricula in entrepreneurial thinking with practical application, providing participants with a comprehensive educational experience that helps them build a leadership mindset capable of turning challenges into promising opportunities.

Targeting participants aged 11 to 16, the program offers a unique opportunity to learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and project management, alongside developing critical thinking, communication, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Participants also engage with pressing social and environmental issues, working in specialized teams to develop innovative solutions and practical projects that address community needs.

The program includes a series of interactive workshops, training sessions, field visits, and mentoring sessions led by experts, entrepreneurs, and specialists from various sectors. Participants develop their project ideas, conduct preliminary market research, identify target audiences, and ultimately present final pitches to specialized committees that evaluate projects and select the most distinctive and impactful ideas.

As part of its ongoing support for the program, NBK is committed to enriching participants’ educational experience by organizing a number of mentoring sessions and interactive workshops delivered by its employees and experts from various disciplines. These sessions aim to introduce participants to the basics of entrepreneurship and project planning, and to develop leadership, teamwork, and effective communication skills. They also support participants in developing innovative ideas that respond to community needs and contribute to addressing social and environmental challenges.

These workshops also bridge theory and practice by allowing young people to benefit from the professional expertise and real-world experiences of NBK’s staff, thereby enhancing their understanding of the requirements for building successful and feasible projects. This encourages them to adopt innovative thinking and find practical solutions to the challenges facing their communities, in line with the main objectives of the “Kan” program, which are to prepare a conscious generation capable of leading positive change and shaping a more sustainable future.

On this occasion, Assistant Vice President of Public Relations and Events, Yaqoub Al-Baqer, said: “We are pleased to continue our collaboration with the Lu’ayaa Foundation and support the ‘Kan’ program, which embodies our shared vision on the importance of investing in Kuwaiti youth and developing their capacity for innovation and change-making. We firmly believe that investing in young people’s capabilities and unleashing their creative energy contributes to preparing a generation of leaders and entrepreneurs capable of innovating quality solutions for social and environmental challenges.”

Al-Baqer added: “Our participation in the mentoring sessions reflects our firm commitment to supporting young people and transferring knowledge and expertise to them, enabling them to develop their ideas and enhance their ability to create positive and sustainable impact in their communities. These initiatives also reflect the culture of volunteering and giving that the Bank strives to instill among its employees, as an integral part of its developmental role toward society.”

Al-Baqer emphasized that young people represent a fundamental pillar of Kuwait’s future, noting the Bank’s keenness to support quality initiatives that help hone their skills and broaden their knowledge horizons, in alignment with its vision for sustainable development and the objectives of Kuwait Vision 2035.

On another note, NBK’s support for the program aligns with the mission embraced by the Lu’ayaa Foundation since its establishment, which aims to empower young people and unleash their creative energy through education, training, volunteering, and capacity building. The Foundation is also known for its pioneering role in preparing young people to actively participate in community development and to enhance values of responsibility and leadership.

Supporting education and training, developing national competencies, and fostering a culture of innovation

National Bank of Kuwait’s support for the “Kan” program is part of its comprehensive corporate social responsibility and sustainability strategy, which focuses on supporting education and training, developing national competencies, and promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, alongside building long-term partnerships with leading voluntary and non-profit institutions to achieve sustainable developmental impact that benefits society and future generations.

Over the past years, the partnership between National Bank of Kuwait and Loyaq Foundation has yielded numerous targeted initiatives and programs that contributed to enhancing participants’ capabilities and equipping them with valuable practical and knowledge-based experiences, thereby strengthening their role in supporting the development process and building a more sustainable and prosperous society, while reflecting the bank’s ongoing commitment to supporting initiatives with long-term positive impact.