Muscat – Sidrah, a youth leadership programme for young women ages 18 to 25, has marked the completion of its inaugural edition with its concluding celebration. Attended by HE Professor Rahma bint Ibrahim Al Mahrooqi, Oman’s Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, the event showcased the journey so far of Sidrah and told the story of the girls and their enriching learning experience over the spread of 6 months.

Co-designed and co-run by Lahunna Oman and Outward Bound Oman, Sidrah was launched in Oman in June 2022 to serve the unique needs of young Omani women across the Sultanate of Oman, creating a balance between theoretical concepts and pragmatic exercises. Its mission is to prepare the next generation in creative problem solving, leading change, character development, service learning, and civic engagement by reinforcing our Omani values, social responsibility and citizenship.

Shatha Salim Al Maskiry, Lahunna’s Founder, said: “As a natural extension of Lahunna’s objectives, the first edition of Sidrah helped more than 40 young women build a stronger sense of self and purpose by developing their abilities to critically think, collaborate and solve problems, as well as harnessing their emotional intelligence to network and communicate effectively.”

She added, “The Sidrah Women had access to mentors in various fields which not only provided the young women a pathway towards expanded options for their careers and lives, but also personally gave me hope that the next generation can create a better future by being agents of change. Our participants learnt that they do not require championing nor empowering – they have all it takes to excel. I can't wait to see how much more they will achieve from here with the boost of confidence they have now.”

Mark Evans, OBO’s Executive Director, said, “We have been privileged to continue our decade-plus journey of making an impact on youth in Oman. One aim of our courses is to generate and develop the next generation of future leaders for the nation, our partner Lahunna Oman complimented this program in Phase II by catering to the intellectual needs of the young women to cultivate their leadership skills and create an expansive network of connections to expand their professional horizons. The development they have shown throughout the programme has been fantastic to witness – and a tribute to the careful planning, in-depth and continuous observation that went into the programme by Lahunna Oman.”

Sidrah employed a two-phased approach. Phase I focused on experiential learning, held over four days in June 2022 at Outward Bound Oman’s Jabal Akhdar Training Centre. Phase II was an intensive six months of coaching and mentoring represented by NYAA in Singapore, Protiviti and IDENTITY. The program was further complemented with guest speakers who were CEOs, Parliamentarians, academics, industry experts and entrepreneurs.

Gratitude was also extended to Oman Shell, Sohar Freezone & Port, VISA, OMRAN, and Sabco Media (Al Wisal, Merge 104.8 and Virgin Radio Oman) for their generous support and sponsorship.

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About Outward Bound Oman

Outward Bound Oman is an educational not for profit foundation established by ministerial decision and is part of the international Outward Bound community that started in Wales in 1941.

Using the mountains and deserts of Oman, our courses help develop people from all walks of life. Through the generosity of our partners, we are able to run adventurous and challenging outdoor learning programmes that equip people with valuable skills for education, work and life.

Working with young people from both inside and outside of Oman, we help them become more confident, more effective and more capable at school, college and in the workplace.

In addition to our work with young people, we also deliver training and professional development programmes for a growing number of leading companies in the region, as well as bespoke leadership and team development courses

About Lahunna Oman

Lahunna is an independent initiative formed in 2020, with potential universal reach and application. It aims to plant a seed to inspire, first locally, then regionally and internationally, the infinite possibilities of a woman’s value in society. The unconventional charm of Lahunna is evident in the method of its presentation and its delivery. In 2022, Lahunna Oman successfully executed multiple initiatives that are women-centric in partnership with Outward Bound Oman, City Center Muscat, Mubashir, Visa and Bank Muscat.

About National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA)

The National Youth Achievement Award Council is a non-profit organization that administrates the National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) in Singapore. It provides platforms to expose the young to develop hands-on and leadership skills, through coordinating opportunities to international and national projects and conferences. The council aims to nurture and grow the young through connecting the community, to becoming exceptional individuals. The council administrates the National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) in Singapore and acts as key contact points for several international and regional youth conferences.

About The Inspiration behind ‘SIDRAH’

The programme draws its name from the local Sidr tree - a symbol of strength and adaptability located across various environments - with some specimens in Oman dating over 350 years. When the roots of the Sidr come across a barrier, they twist and turn to overcome it, adjusting beautifully and resiliently, just as the programme’s participants will find within themselves the flexibility and strength to adapt and grow over the course of this unique experiential journey. Furthermore, the traditional choice for an innovative programme represents the strong link between the participants’ glorious past and their promising future.