The time in which our youth are transitioning from kids to adulthood can be a tenuous one, to put it mildly. Between all the concerns about which secondary school to go to and which program to study (perhaps even in which country) often a lot of other opportunities that help students learn beyond just the classroom can be lost, and with them, significant opportunities for growth and the acquisition of skills necessary to be successful in the modern workplace. It is this gap, between formal education and real world application that the Protégé organization seeks to fill.
The Protégés is a program designed to positively influence the youth of Kuwait, through an inclusive series of events that combines travel, lectures, group activities, challenges, games and fun. Guided by a team of mentors, The Protégés are encouraged to discover their passions and given the tools to help them excel in their future careers and contribute positively to society.
They feel that by nurturing the potential of the youth through all of these activities, it will broaden their horizons and challenge them to discover more about themselves than they otherwise might. It appears to be working too: at this point, they have become one of the leading youth programs in the region, and are making a name for themselves for developing young talents and producing an alumnus of well-rounded, successful adults.
As for the mentors themselves, they are a team of well-respected public figures known for their success and achievements in various fields. The role of the mentor is to inspire the Protégés to discover their passion and offer them insights from their own personal experiences on how to achieve them. By providing on-going guidance and support, the mentors and Protégés form life-long relationships, which do not end when the program does. Their goal is to maximize the impact they make on each Protégé and the impact each Protégé will make on the future.
The basic format is based around a trip, and all of the collective learning around it. In this, their third generation of these activities, they will be going to London. The Protégés program will take the students on a journey that combines fun, work, wisdom, and personal development. This year, the full program takes place from August 11th to the 31st. During this time, they will take a two week trip to England that will include: Seminars at Kings College, workshops conducted by mentors, entrepreneur seminars on starting your own business, and of course games and group activities until your hearts content.
When asked, they say that their main aim is “to strive to achieve the perfect formula that integrates knowledge and life experience to stimulate the minds of the new generation.” By taking advantage of the combined knowledge of their mentors, paired with a trip to the UK and business courses at Kings College, they feel that they truly are delivering a once in a lifetime experience to those chosen to go. By discovering extraordinary potential in the youth and developing it through a unique shared experience, they not only learn the lessons as taught to them by their mentors, but also through the life-long friendships and bonds that are no-doubt built over such an experience. The application process is open to any 16-24 year old that wishes to apply. All you have to do is go to their site and fill out an application online.
In the end, the Protégés are selected based on a thorough screening process aimed to ensure that they meet the organizations standards of excellence.
Find information on The Protégés or submit your application online at www.theproteges.org. Follow them on Twitter: @the_proteges and Instagram: @TheProteges.
