Ithra tracks signal shift in Youth Policy

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

A quiet revolution is taking shape in Bahrain’s youth education scene - and it begins at age 15. The AlMabarrah AlKhalifia Foundation has introduced a new age track in its flagship Ithra programme, targeting 15- to 16-year-olds with structured, skills-based learning designed to bridge adolescence and early adulthood.

While the announcement may seem like another summer launch, the implications go much deeper - Bahrain is gradually rewriting how it prepares its young people for the future, one age group at a time.

Shifting the model

Titled ‘Ithra Youth’, the new segment is part of a broader progression model now embedded in MKF’s summer programming. Starting with ‘Ithra Buds’ (ages 10–12), which develops essential life skills through playful learning, and continuing through ‘Ithra Juniors’ (ages 13–14), which introduces scientific foundations and hands-on activities, the new Youth track completes a pipeline that follows a child’s developmental arc.

With over 30 participants per season in each track, the curriculum is far from textbook-based. Field visits, practical workshops, creative arts, thematic challenges and sports are all part of the mix - each tailored to the cognitive and emotional needs of the specific age group.

Designing the future

This approach, rooted in experiential learning and continuous self-assessment, reflects a deeper institutional shift. Rather than treat youth development as a broad-brush activity, MKF is building an infrastructure of age-relevant interventions. It signals a move from generalised summer engagement to a layered system where each year of adolescence is mapped to a meaningful learning experience.

Her Highness Shaikha Zain bint Khalid Al Khalifa, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, affirmed this direction, noting that the Foundation’s investment in young people reflects a belief in their capacity to lead, grow and shape society. “This programme is about more than summer,” she said. “It’s about building readiness, resilience, and a sense of purpose - starting early and evolving with each year.”

Nation-building through youth

Since its establishment in 2011, MKF has focused on education as its primary social mandate. But the 2025 edition of the Ithra initiative marks a notable pivot - one that aligns more closely with national ambitions under Bahrain Vision 2030. By recognising that a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old need fundamentally different tools to succeed, the Foundation is challenging others in the sector to rethink how youth engagement is designed.

What may appear at first glance as a seasonal programme launch is, in reality, part of a much more strategic reimagining of Bahrain’s youth ecosystem.