Al-Watani Continues in Partnership with Loyaq to Support the 'Kan' Social Entrepreneurship Program
- Yaqoub Al-Baqer:
- “Kan” embodies our shared vision with “Loyak” in empowering youth and creating a sustainable positive impact
- Investing in youth and unleashing their creative energy is the path to preparing future leaders and entrepreneurs
- Workshops and mentoring sessions equip participants with the expertise to build projects that deliver value to society
As part of its strategic partnership with the Loyak volunteer foundation, National Bank of Kuwait 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 a positive and sustainable impact on society.
This year, “Kan” 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 past 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 Loyak 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 develop 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 basics of entrepreneurship and project management, alongside developing skills in critical thinking, communication, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving. Participants also gain awareness of pressing social and environmental issues and work 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 panels for project evaluation and selection of the most distinctive and impactful ideas.
In line with its continuous support for the program, National Bank of Kuwait strives to enrich participants’ educational experience by organizing a number of mentoring sessions and interactive workshops delivered by several of its employees and experts from various disciplines.
These sessions aim to introduce participants to the fundamentals 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.
Furthermore, the workshops bridge theory and practice by allowing young people to benefit from the professional expertise and real-world experiences of the bank’s staff. This enhances their understanding of the requirements for building successful and executable projects, encourages them to adopt innovative thinking, and inspires them to find practical solutions to the challenges facing their communities, in alignment with the main objectives of the “Kan” program: 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 Loyak Foundation and support the ‘Be’ program, which embodies our shared vision of the importance of investing in Kuwaiti youth and developing their capacities for innovation and driving change. We firmly believe that investing in young people’s capabilities and unleashing their creative energies contributes to preparing a generation of leaders and entrepreneurs capable of devising innovative solutions to societal and environmental challenges.”
Al-Baqer added: “Our participation in the mentoring sessions reflects our steadfast commitment to supporting young people and transferring knowledge and expertise to them, enabling them to develop their ideas and enhance their ability to create a 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 high-impact 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.
National Bank’s support for the ‘Be’ program aligns with Loyak’s mission to empower youth and unleash their creative energies through education, training, volunteering, and capacity building. The foundation is known for its pioneering role in preparing young people to participate actively in community development and to reinforce values of responsibility and leadership.
National Bank’s support for the ‘Be’ 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. This is complemented by 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 and Loyak has yielded numerous purposeful initiatives and programs that contributed to developing participants’ capacities and equipping them with valuable practical and knowledge-based experiences. These efforts enhance their role in supporting the development journey and building a more sustainable and prosperous society, reflecting the bank’s ongoing commitment to supporting initiatives with long-term positive impact.
