Be better...be true Syrians

The Junior Chamber International (JCI) is a worldwide federation of young leaders and entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 40, with local chapters in more than 5,000 communities located in more than 100 cities with more than 200,000 members. Founded in Mexico City on December 11, 1944, JCI provides young people with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills, social responsibility, entrepreneurship and the fellowship necessary to create positive change. In 2004, five young and motivated Syrians founded JCI Syria under the umbrella of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Damascus was the first city to host the newly established organization. Then came Aleppo and Homs. Coming next is Latakia.

JCI has four different ‘areas’ of work: individual, community, international, and business. With over 200 members, JCI Damascus is now one of the leading youth organizations in Syria. From diversified and exceptional personal development trainings, to monthly business lectures and continuous efforts to encourage the community to be socially active, JCI Damascus is thriving to reach its objective to create positive change within the society.

One of their projects was to promote volunteerism among Syrian school students, an idea originally set up in 2005. This year JCI Damascus invited schools to join in cleaning up the old city of Damascus in the immediate aftermath of the parliamentary elections that left walls and buildings plastered with photographs of candidates and their campaign slogans.

Through this competition, JCI aimed to promote and encourage young Syrians to start their own business in-stead of the safer and more tradition-al way of being employed. The BBPC was launched in Aleppo on December 23, 2006. Along with the competition, JCI organized a series of lectures and workshops, all focused on preparing a good business plan. By the time of the deadline (March 31, 2007), JCI had received 107 entries. Filtering followed, and 10 plans were short-listed and presented to a jury. The results were then announced at a for-mal dinner in Sheraton Damascus on June 2, 2007. An atmosphere marked with competition, festivity, and accomplishment, the first three winners received cheques in the amounts of 500,000 SP ($10,000 USD), 250,000 SP ($5,000 USD), and 125,000 SP ($2,500 USD). Moreover, the three winners will apply to the BBPC inter-national competition, where results will be announced during the 62nd world congress, in Antalya, Turkey.

One of the unique features of JCI is its internationalism. Every year a number of international events are organized by JCI all around the world. JCI Syria is trying to participate in most of them. One of the first events this year was the Africa and Middle East Area Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. Although the Syrian delegation was com-posed of only 6 members, they took part in every activity, from the public speaking competition to debates. Grinning, they came back home with three international awards. One of them was for the Children Fair, which took place in 2006 and promoted volunteerism among students. It won the Best Youth Activity Project. They also won the Best Newly Established Chapter in Africa and the Middle East. JCI Syria’s President Saleh Rustom won the Best Chapter President Award. The mission to represent the country and be Syria’s best ambassadors was accomplished.