Operation HOPE Blog

KUWAIT TIMES

Published Date: November 25, 2009

Kuwaiti intern with US non-profit organization gains experience

KUWAIT: Internships can, no doubt, help an intern gain insight into his or her field of study, but for Fahad Al-Khuzam, who was selected to be the first international intern at the US-based, non-profit Operation HOPE, the experience meant a lot more.

I have always said that ‘international experience is the best experience…it’s been a long-held dream of mine to work abroad and to experience the professional world outside,” Al-Khuzam told KUNA.

Having already experienced periods of work in Kuwait with the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) and Efad Holding, Al-Khuzam, 19, described his latest experience as being “different” because he was working for a non-profit organization. “It felt great,” he said.

The month-long internship saw Al-Khuzam employed at HOPE’s ‘Banking on Our Future’ offices in Arlington, VA, where he worked on putting together a recommended plan for HOPE to roll out an iPhone mobile Application course to serve both children and adults, which will have an integrated focused content that incorporates entrepreneurial concepts and ideas for starting a business in the mobile application space.

The aim of the iHOPE program is to increase entrepreneurial spirit in youth and adults. iHOPE will help the young to build mobile applications in a world now where the internet is advancing and has become more ‘clickable.’ Once those applications have been built based on young people’s creative ideas, they will be launched on the market for sale,” he explained.

As a member of the British Council’s international Global Changemakers network, Al-Khuzam has also participated in the World Economic Forum 2009 in the Dead Sea, Jordan, where he got the chance to meet with HOPE Inc’s founder, chairman and CEO, John Hope Bryant.

I met Fahad at the World Economic Forum meeting in Jordan earlier this year and was just so impressed with him, that I was inspired to offer him an opportunity as our first HOPE International Intern on the spot. He did not disappoint,” Bryant explained.

Asked why HOPE had decided to take on foreign interns, he said, “These are not foreign interns, they represent my brothers and sisters from another region. We are all global citizens, in an increasingly interconnected world. We must build bridges of understanding with and between cultures, countries and each other.

He added that HOPE’s goals in taking on Al-Khuzam were “more than fulfilled, ” saying, “Fahad gave as much as or more than he got. He taught and inspired my team, even as he was learning and being inspired. It just proves what I believe; you cannot have dignity yourself until you offer it to someone else.

Al-Khuzam said that his experience with HOPE had guided him in choosing his career. “I have been exposed to so many organizations and companies which have given me the idea how each operate and where I find myself.

He noted that many people working in non-profit organizations like HOPE left high-status jobs and happily settled for lower salaries “because they have the urge to give back to the community and not think of maximizing profits but about the amount of people they have helped.

One of the highlights of his experience, he said, was witnessing the “work ethic” – hard working people who were also very punctual. This, he said, encouraged him to keep on doing the same.

I have built many great connections with Operation HOPE and did not only come back with my luggage and experience, but opportunities as well,” he said, adding that Operation HOPE had expressed its willingness to take on more international interns, not only from Kuwait but the Middle East as well in the near future.

Al-Khuzam, who’s currently a sophomore at Kuwait’s Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), is also involved with the Lothan Youth Achievement Center (LoYAC) in the formation of an environmental committee, as well as other youth activities. He also hopes to earn his graduate degree abroad.

My volunteer work and internship has helped me develop who I am personally and professionally, not to mention the art of dealing with others which is a very important, if not the most important, thing,” he concluded. – KUNA

Submitted by Carlos Prado

Earlier this year, HOPE Intern and 5MK Youth Board member, Carlos Prado, went with his school choir to the St. Andrews Recreation Center and Parks to sing for Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco. The Mayor had a town meeting with the community to discuss his possibility of running for governor of California. He addressed such topics as health care reform, budget cuts, and education hoping to rally initial campaign support.

When the mayor invited questions from the audience, Carlos stood up and asked, “If elected Governor of California, what is your plan to improve the financial education, not only the parents but also the students in the school? What happens to those kids who’s parents are working 2-3 jobs each and barely have enough to pay off bills? ” He further inquired, “Look around, what is your plan for those who are expected to be financially literate or need to be financially literate to survive but their parents do not have enough education to teach them the right way of banking?”

The mayor turned around to see the crowd of people applauding Carlos for his question. Acknowledging Carlos for his perceptive question, Newsom said, “If no one wants to ask the big questions then who will?”

Later as the students were going to go home, the mayor asked the students to tell him what they thought were the problems with the school system. and the students said:”big classes”,”not enough supplies”,”lack of color on school walls” but when the microphone came to Carlos, Carlos asked, “I know the schools are having problems with their budget cuts, but why are they firing teachers and rehiring them as substitutes with half the pay? That’s just not right.” Astonished the mayor said, “you should be running for Governor not me!“

Finally the meeting ended with the Foshay kids leaving. but while they were starting to leave Carlos went up to the mayor and asked about a topic that was very important to not only to Himself but to his community. Which was, “what is your plan for health care reform?” “what are you going to do to help those families who just pass the margin for free health care but aren’t wealthy enough to pay for themselves” And the mayor just looked at him just amazed by what Carlos knew. And Mayor Newsom said, “that is exactly what i want to fix in this state.” we need to help those families in need so they can succeed..”

Banking on Our Future, Program Manager Patricia Robles headed up a spectacular event pairing Chase employees with Skinner Elementary to deliver a financial literacy session on Thursday, November 12.  Operation HOPE educated 245 students, grades 6th though 8th using Banking on Our Future’s core curriculum of checking, saving,  banking and investing.  Volunteers are already lining up to return in December to teach the rest of the 4th and 5th graders. This is our 3rd Chicago Chase — Operation HOPE event and we’re already in the midst of planning another event before we wrap up the year.

Washington, DC– November 13, 2009 –Australian Ambassador to the United States, Dennis Richardson, and his wife Betty Richardson, hosted a private dinner honoring the innovative work of Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO, John Hope Bryant and the work of Operation HOPE.

The private dinner applauded the organization’s efforts and continued the dialogue started at HOPE’s first Global Financial Literacy Summit held in June 2009.  The Summit focused on the importance of teaching the global community a new language –  the “language of money.”

Ambassador Richardson attended the Summit held in Anacostia, an economically struggling suburb of Washington, D.C. The theme of the summit was “A Business Case for Financial Literacy.” The event helped bring awareness to financial literacy and HOPE’s mission to move people from civil rights to “silver rights.” The Summit’s dialogue pivoted around the importance of understanding free enterprise and capitalism, and making the “language of money” aspirationally relevant to the poor on a global level.

HOPE’s own Global Spokesman, Ambassador Andrew Young has created an official “Friends of Andrew Young” page on Facebook. No stranger to the social networking Ambassador Young’s page will be updated daily through the Andrew Young Foundation, to keep up with what’s new.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/pages/Friends-of-Andrew-Young/187369132736?ref=nf

In addition, all eight editions of the syndicated TV series “Andrew Young Presents” are now available in high quality DVD format, and can be purchased online at www.andrewyoung.org.