Latakia Hosts ‘Intilaqa’ Youth Camp to Foster Leadership Skills
The city of Latakia successfully concluded the four-day ‘Intilaqa’ youth camp, an educational initiative held at the city’s sports complex. The event, which hosted approximately 100 high school students, focused on personal development and the cultivation of active citizenship, aiming to equip the youth with essential life skills in an era increasingly defined by digital influence.
The camp featured a structured program built around four primary developmental tracks. These sessions integrated global training methodologies alongside localized expertise from professionals within the youth and sports sectors. The curriculum was designed to foster core values such as collective responsibility, leadership, teamwork, and proactive community involvement. By moving beyond traditional education, the organizers sought to provide participants with tools to identify positive life paths and contribute effectively to the broader social fabric.
Ali Hallaq, Director of Youth Affairs, highlighted the necessity of such initiatives, noting that the camp provides a structured environment for young people to invest their time productively. He emphasized that as digital media and social networks continue to shape the values and perceptions of the younger generation, it is crucial for institutions to offer guidance that encourages critical thinking and active contribution to society. The goal, according to Hallaq, is to translate these training experiences into real-world initiatives that support national development.
Local authorities overseeing the event also expressed satisfaction with the program’s outcomes. Khalid Abu Ali, director of the executive office for sports in Latakia, emphasized the importance of reinforcing principles of cooperation and integrity through these activities. Given the successful completion of this cycle, there is active discussion regarding the potential to scale the project, with officials expressing a desire to implement similar camps across other provinces throughout Syria.
Participants reported significant personal growth during the four-day event. Ahmed Mashantaf, one of the attending students, described the experience as a transformative opportunity that enabled him to build a sense of personal accountability while identifying latent capabilities he had not previously explored. The camp is part of a broader, ongoing series of programs directed at the high school demographic, intended to strengthen the connection between youth and their community through targeted development and engagement strategies.
