By Sherouq Sadeqi
WASHINGTON, July 18 (KUNA) -- The Kuwait-America Foundation (KAF), in partnership with the National Campaign to Stop Violence (NCSV), hosted its annual ceremony honoring the "Do the Write Thing" (DtWT) National Student Ambassadors under the theme "Of One Voice, Of One Heart." The event recognized and honored 47 young students from across the US who have "committed to making communities safe for themselves and future generations" by participating in the DtWT Challenge, where they shared their compelling stories of distressing and often tragic situations, as well as hope.
This year alone, the program has heard stories from over 85,000 students who shared, through their writings, their experiences with violence and their solutions to reducing violence.
KAF Chairman Dr. Hassan Al-Ebraheem told KUNA "What began as a pilot program in 1994 with only 850 students participating in the 'Do the Write Thing' Challenge, has grown into almost 85,000 students submitting writings from 25 communities across the US in 2019." He added "This year's writings alone are 100 times the amount we received 25 years ago, and since the launch of the program, over two million students have continued to exemplify the work of the Kuwait-America Foundation." On this year's student ambassadors, Dr. Al-Ebraheem noted, "They just like you, have reached deep within themselves and have put pen to paper to say that enough is enough.
"They have taken a stand for what they believe, united in a cause greater than an individual with an impact that is far-reaching and life changing," he remarked.
He affirmed, "The longevity of DtWT is a testament to its success. It reaches students who live with violence every day and empowers them, through their writings, with the ability to reduce violence and help create an America that is safe for all." The DtWT Challenge has established itself as a successful program aimed at reducing youth violence in schools and communities across the US as it seeks to empower youth, through their writings, with the ability to reduce violence and create an America in which all children enjoy safe schools, peaceful neighborhoods and loving homes.
Since 1996, the Challenge has given over two million students a platform for sharing their experiences. The program reaches out to most vulnerable students, offering them an experience that proves to be both therapeutic and cathartic.
The "Do the Write Thing" Challenge was founded by the Kuwait-America Foundation. The connection between KAF and the DtWT is a "proud reminder" of the cooperation that can exist and the ties that can be forged between two nations for a common good.
The event was attended by Kuwait's Ambassador to the US Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah, his wife Sheikha Rima Al-Sabah and Dean of the World Bank Group's Board of Executive Directors Dr. Merza Hasan, in addition to several government officials and community service leaders. (end) si.gta