Kuwait

Kuwait Alumni prepare gifts for the children at the National Bank of Kuwait Cancer Control Center.

YES Alumni gathered on July 17th at the National Bank of Kuwait Cancer Control Center to plan a surprise party for the patients there. Invitation cards were sent, and stuffed animals were selected for each child. The reception area was decorated with colorful balloons, sparkling star-like paper. Over 50 children attended the event. YES alumni coordinated games while a magician presented his show for one hour, and the cartoon character, Barney, was also present to entertain the children. The alumni brought a cake which everyone shared. "Watching the children sing today has taught me a lesson that even at difficult times, one can still fight for survival with a big smile. Love and care from the people around us make the difference." - Faisal Hameed '06 Danah Hamadah '06 noted that " This hospital is a world onto its own. I see children in pain but still laughing and enjoying their time with us. Now, I view things differently. Being with friends, hanging out most of the time, and wasting time is not important. There should be other priorities and more useful things I can do with my life. Being here at this party and showing the children my love is worth a lot. I hope I was able to make their hearts smile just like I saw their faces smile." Jassim Al Ghanim'04 summed up the experience as follows. "All we can do is pray for them and give them our affection, attention, and love. It's their hope for a new tomorrow."

On September 17th, alumni participated in a reunion event for Kuwaiti U.S. exchange program alumni and select graduates of US universities hosted by the US Embassy in Kuwait. There were more than 150 alumni guests at this networking event. The YES alumni introduced themselves to alumni members of other exchange programs in an attempt to expand their network of contacts and to exchange ideas.

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