Youth Association of Kuwait
Encyclopedia
The Youth Association of Kuwait - yakuwait is a social democratic youth organization in Kuwait which was founded in 2006 under the name National Democratic Youth Association. It aims at building a new generation of Kuwaitis that are interested in public affairs, politics and human rights. Also, the association is concerned with youth issues such as education, unemployment and youth activism. It is the main Kuwaiti Neosocialist youth organization in Kuwait.
The association was formed as the National Democratic Youth Association in 2006 and its appointed administrative body was composed of Ali Alawadhi (chairman), Ahmed Abdulraheem (secretary), Jassim Alenezi, Shorouq Alnabhan and Mohammad Alhasan.
While most organizations with political alignments backed the Nabeeha 5
electoral remapping campaign in 2006, the association opposed it because it saw it as an unfair redistribution that would marginalize sects of society.
Due to perceived stagnation in the Kuwaiti Democratic Forum, as well as divergent visions, the association decided to dissociate itself from the parent organization towards complete organizational independence.
In 2009, the association held its first convention as a fully independent organization and elected an administrative body with Ahmed Soud (chairman), Mohammad Alhasan (secretary), Ahmed Abulraheem (board member), Dalal Almussalam (board member) and Mubarak Almussalam (board member). Later Dalal Almussalam quitted to focus on her law education and Husain Alharbi was elected to fill her vacant seat.
Later in 2009's parliament elections
, the association backed the Kuwaiti Democratic Forum's candidates which are Abdullah Alnibari, Mohammed Alabduljader
and Saleh Almulla
.
In 2010, the association, along with the Union of Petroleum Workers and other civil societies, spearheaded a campaign against the government's then proposed privatization plan. It claimed that the plan would effectively destroy the middle and working classes of Kuwait in the long run, describing it as unconstitutional.
After its second convention in 2011, the majority of members voted on changing the name of the organization to its current one and adopting social democracy as its ideology along with the Masaruna document. Also, the convention elected Ahmed Soud (chairman), Mohammad Alhasan (deputy chairman), Ahmed Abdulraheem (secretary), Abdulwahab Alnajdi and Abdulghaphor Hajjieh.
creates committees and appoints members with special tasks and runs the day to day affairs of the association.
The organizational structure is fluid and adapts to changes in behavior and activities of the association to operate effectively.
The association did not participate nor indorse the protests because it saw that a lot of corrupt figures were involved in it, nevertheless the association does not deny that it is the right of every Kuwaiti to politically assemble.
History
Some young members of the Kuwaiti Democratic Forum proposed in its 2005 convention to establish a youth organization affiliated to the Foundation to tackle youth issues, campaigning on its behalf, to politically educate and attract youth towards the political faction.The association was formed as the National Democratic Youth Association in 2006 and its appointed administrative body was composed of Ali Alawadhi (chairman), Ahmed Abdulraheem (secretary), Jassim Alenezi, Shorouq Alnabhan and Mohammad Alhasan.
While most organizations with political alignments backed the Nabeeha 5
Elections in Kuwait
Elections in Kuwait are held for both the National Assembly and for the Municipality. Kuwait's 1962 constitution calls for elections to the unicameral National Assembly at a maximum interval of four years...
electoral remapping campaign in 2006, the association opposed it because it saw it as an unfair redistribution that would marginalize sects of society.
Due to perceived stagnation in the Kuwaiti Democratic Forum, as well as divergent visions, the association decided to dissociate itself from the parent organization towards complete organizational independence.
In 2009, the association held its first convention as a fully independent organization and elected an administrative body with Ahmed Soud (chairman), Mohammad Alhasan (secretary), Ahmed Abulraheem (board member), Dalal Almussalam (board member) and Mubarak Almussalam (board member). Later Dalal Almussalam quitted to focus on her law education and Husain Alharbi was elected to fill her vacant seat.
Later in 2009's parliament elections
Kuwaiti parliamentary election, 2009
An early parliamentary election was held in Kuwait on 16 May 2009, the country's third in a three-year period. Kuwait had voted on six occasions between 1991 and 2009...
, the association backed the Kuwaiti Democratic Forum's candidates which are Abdullah Alnibari, Mohammed Alabduljader
Mohammed Al-Abduljader
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Abduljader is a former member of parliament in the Kuwaiti National Assembly representing the second district. Al-Abduljader was the deputy secretary general of the Kuwait Democratic Foundation; a progressive, liberal Kuwaiti political organization that is a strong advocate...
and Saleh Almulla
Saleh Al-Mulla
Saleh Al-Mulla representing the third district. Born in 1971, Al-Mulla studied Business at Kuwait University and worked as a diplomat before being elected to the National Assembly in 2008...
.
In 2010, the association, along with the Union of Petroleum Workers and other civil societies, spearheaded a campaign against the government's then proposed privatization plan. It claimed that the plan would effectively destroy the middle and working classes of Kuwait in the long run, describing it as unconstitutional.
After its second convention in 2011, the majority of members voted on changing the name of the organization to its current one and adopting social democracy as its ideology along with the Masaruna document. Also, the convention elected Ahmed Soud (chairman), Mohammad Alhasan (deputy chairman), Ahmed Abdulraheem (secretary), Abdulwahab Alnajdi and Abdulghaphor Hajjieh.
Ideology
When the association was founded, it was committed to the Kuwaiti Democratic Forum's political program which was a traditional reformist platform. In 2008, when the association broke organizational ties with the parent organization, it started developing its own thought based on the objective political and socio-economic conditions of the state of Kuwait and the Gulf region. Nevertheless, in 2011 after its second convention it produced a document that was the manifestation of the aggregate of its experiences called Masaruna (Our Path) which is considered by some Kuwaiti Neosocialism.Organizational structure
The highest authority in the association is its convention which is held every two years. The convention elects an executive board which is made of chairman, deputy chairman, secretary and two members. The executive boardcreates committees and appoints members with special tasks and runs the day to day affairs of the association.
The organizational structure is fluid and adapts to changes in behavior and activities of the association to operate effectively.
Local issues
The association is very active in promoting its agenda, organizing grassroots campaigns and seminars to do so.Freedom of education
The association advocates that it is the right of every higher-education student to have the choice to choose between a co-educated environment and a segregated one, and it does not endorse co-ed itself.2011 Friday Protests
One of the main events on the political arena in Kuwait in 2011 was the Friday Protests which were spearheaded by Islamist and tribe-backed MPs, in addition of some youth groups.The association did not participate nor indorse the protests because it saw that a lot of corrupt figures were involved in it, nevertheless the association does not deny that it is the right of every Kuwaiti to politically assemble.