Strategic Qualification Program for Youth Leaders (March – August 2025)
Program Details
The Strategic Qualification Program for Youth Leaders is a capacity-building initiative co-sponsored by the Mokha Forum and implemented by the Yemeni Students Union in Istanbul. The program aims to train 70 young Yemeni leaders residing in Turkey, strengthening their role within student and civil society institutions and laying the groundwork for institutional partnerships that serve the Yemeni diaspora.
Spanning six months, the program features a hybrid model of online training and two in-person forums held in Istanbul. Its objective is to build a core group of capable youth leaders equipped to drive national projects and influence both local and international discourse.
Training Topics, Duration and Learning Method Include:
- Strategic Planning and Project Management (online, one month)
- Leadership and Organizational Management (online, one month)
- Diplomacy and Relationship-Building Skills (in-person, First Forum)
- Communication and Public Relations (online)
- Innovation and Problem-Solving (online)
- Field Visits and Case Studies (in-person, Second Forum)
Program Launch: First Forum
The city of Istanbul hosted the launch of the first forum of the Strategic Qualification Program for Youth Leaders, organized by the Yemeni Students Union (Istanbul Branch), in partnership with the Mokha Center for Strategic Studies and several institutions. The forum welcomed the participation of over 70 Yemeni students representing 23 cities across Turkey.
This forum served as the official launch of an eight-month training program that combines theoretical learning with practical application. Its goal is to cultivate a core group of young leaders who carry a national vision and possess the institutional skills necessary to make a meaningful impact both locally and internationally.
The forum featured a series of workshops and training sessions in areas, such as strategic thinking, planning, leadership, diplomacy, media and institutional development. Participants also took part in field visits to official institutions and civil society organizations engaged in practical exercises and concluded the event by presenting their outcomes for evaluation and feedback.
Prominent Yemeni figures were in attendance, including former ministers, deputy ministers, diplomats and academics. They delivered speeches and presented papers addressing the current state of youth leadership, the prospects for rebuilding Yemen and the role of youth in shaping the national landscape.
Dr. Mohammed Qizan, undersecretary of the Ministry of Information, delivered a keynote speech in which he highlighted the differences between government and union work and emphasized the critical role youth can play in both spheres. Professor Anwar Al-Khudari, head of the Strategic Studies Unit at the Mokha Center, also delivered a speech on the importance of young people’s political engagement in shaping the country’s future.
Program Summary:
