Zain Dream powers

Aspiring tech geniuses will get a golden opportunity to participate in a mentoring program and have their winning tech entries selected for translation into working projects by Zain Bahrain, the Kingdom’s telecoms sector tech leader.

 

At a press conference held today, Zain Bahrain’s Corporate Communications Manager Samya Hussain announced that the Zain Dream project will be used to empower the winning teams and enrich the ‘Zain eShabab – The Innovation Challenge’ program, now in its second year.

 

The program held under the patronage of Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the General Organization for Youth and Sports, is underwritten by Zain Bahrain. The unique program brings together some of the brightest young minds and mentors who could help them to create winning entries that would utilize technology in new and creative ways.

 

The six-month event is designed to get youngsters to think about technology and use it in new ways, thus preparing them for the future. The program is a combination of three main elements: training, guidance, and a competition. Participants get the opportunity to listen and learn from experts from around the world about the hottest topics in technology, innovation and creativity. In the second stage of the program the participants are divided into teams and work on their project with the help of a coach/mentor.

 

The supporters of the Zain eShabab program are the GOYS, eGoverment Authority, Gulf Future Business and Bahrain Internet Society. The event is managed by the committee made up of representatives from these organizations.

 

“As a telecoms company that firmly believes in the power of youth to transform society, Zain Bahrain has consistently partnered young people in realizing their full potential as a central CSR focus,” Added Samya Hussain, “This year, we have added even greater value to the Zain eShabab program by linking it to our innovative award-winning ‘Zain Dream’ CSR initiative. Not only will every participant be benefited by interacting with experts and mentors in the tech field, but the finalists and winners of the innovation contest at the end of the project will also get financial support from Zain Bahrain as a Zain Dream winner.”

 

According to Organizing Committee Chairman Ahmed Al Hujairy, the 2010 edition of the Zain eShabab program will target 300 selected students and expose them to a unique blend of training and guidance – significantly more than the first program which saw 80 students selected. The Zain eShabab 2010 program commenced from mid-April, until early September when the Zain Dream winners from the project will be announced.

 

“This year we want to aim even higher than 2009 and are expecting to receive over 300 registrations for the program and shall select 300 final participants,” Al Hujairy said, “The training will develop and build up the teams’ talents and enable them to participate in competitions for creativity and innovation in technology. In the second stage of the program, the students will be required to form teams with 3 to 5 members in each, bringing the total number of teams to 60+ for the final tech innovation contest.”

 

Mr. Nawaf Abdulrahman of the Bahrain Internet Society pointed out that the Zain eShabab program is designed to get young people to think ‘Outside the Box’ so that they get into the habit of thinking innovatively and can learn to translate innovation into realistic projects that can benefit society and the development of the private sector through valid business ideas.

 

“The program creates an environment for the exchange of ideas through the creation of competitions and offers direction through a strong mentoring aspect,” he said.

 

The program begins with an induction week, where the participants will be briefed on: competition Guidelines, eGoverment Sevices, Electronic Content, Innovation, Creativity, Unified Communications Evolution and International competitions. The program will also include Zain Site Visits and Activity Day.

 

This will be followed by the selection of 60 teams, they would be further short listed to 30 by the jury committee based on their applications.

 

The next round will involve a project presentation by the 30 qualified teams of which 18 finalist teams will be selected who would go on to compete at the finale .

 

There will be 3 winners in each category who will have their dreams come true by winning and receiving the Zain Dream Award.

 

The winning teams selected on the basis of innovation at the end of the program will be supported by Zain Bahrain through the Zain Dream program to translate their ideas and innovation into real-life projects that will enrich the community and the private sector. The winning teams will also be nominated to represent the Kingdom of Bahrain in Arab and international innovation competitions.

 

Shaikh. Rashid Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Head of youth innovation center at General Organization for Youth and Sports, spoke about the role of the General Organization for Youth and Sports to encourage young people of Bahrain to participate in these types of programs that develop the spirit and enhance innovation and competition, and thereby contribute to the transfer of winning ideas to Arab and international competitions.

 

The press conference was attended by Samya Hussain, Corporate Communications Manager at Zain Bahrain, Zain Dream Committee members Mr. Ahmed Al-Hujairy - Chairman of the organizing committee, Shaikh. Rashid Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Head of youth innovation center, GOYS, and the Bahrain Internet Society Vice Chairman, Mr. Nawaf Abdulrahman.

 

“Zain Bahrain is delighted to be working with leading agencies for change such as GOYS, the Bahrain eGoverment Authority, and Gulf Future Business,” We wish all the participants the best of luck.” said Samya Hussain,