MUSCAT : The programme comprises 61 initiatives covering a broad range of activities spanning the fields of culture, health, sports, economy, media, religion, the environment and entrepreneurship. It serves all segments of society in the Sultanate of Oman’s governorates.

Hilal Saif Al Siyabi, Director General of Youth at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, said that the Ministry accords special attention to youth initiatives that address the needs of society and align with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, notably in the areas of innovation, sustainability and social development.
Al Siyabi added that youth initiatives include community projects or activities that address social and developmental issues through a voluntary, non-profit approach. The initiatives, he explained, reflect the spirit of innovation and active citizenship and accommodate the Omani cultural values.

Statistics show that the “Youth Initiatives Support Programme” has seen steady growth and that, since its inception in 2016, it has provided support for more than 600 initiatives benefited more than 150,000 young men and women. The programme organizers also held exhibitions and local activities that consolidated the media presence and institutional outreach of the initiatives.

The Ministry has prepared a guide and an integrated electronic system for evaluating and developing the initiatives, within the framework of supporting youth initiatives, regulating their objectives and improving their quality in cooperation with government and private establishments. This reflects a strategic approach to upgrade these initiatives from mere voluntary experiences into active community institutions.