Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH – The Jeddah-based Goodwill Global Initiative (GGI) is organizing a comprehensive one-day media workshop titled “GGI Talent Lab 2019” for talented Indian students of international schools in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia. The communication upskilling workshop will be held at the Boys’ Section auditorium of International Indian School, Jeddah on Saturday, Nov. 23. Prominent media figures and life coaches will lead sessions on basics of media work, writing and communication skills.

Indian Consul General Mohammed Noor Rahman Sheikh will be the chief guest in the event in which former Editor In Chief Khaled Almaeena will be the guest of honor. Nezar Al-Ali, director of the Media Center of Iqraa Channel; L. Ramnarayan Iyer, executive editor of Saudi Gazette; Siraj Wahab, managing editor of Arab News, and Dr. Abdussalam Omar (King Saud University, Riyadh) are among those who will lead various sessions.

Registration for the participation will conclude on Sunday, Nov. 17 and students are required to complete the registration procedures in coordination with their respective school authorities, according to officials of GGI. A written contest to evaluate writing and journalistic talent on a topic related with the workshop will also be held. Visit to a premier Saudi television channel studio is also arranged on the sidelines of the event, said GGI’s President Dr. Ismail Maritheri, General Secretary Hassan Cheruppa and Program Chief Coordinator Musthafa Vakkaloor in a statement.

They noted that GGI is a platform aimed to focus on research, academic excellence as well as to connect and bolster bridges of cultural exchange between the Indian diaspora and the Arab World. The objectives of the event include expanding students’ knowledge horizon; boosting their creativity; augmenting their journalistic talent; enhancing their writing and communication skills; and spurring their wariness in using social media through their close interaction with experts in respective fields.

“The Talent Lab is an offshoot of GGI’s initiatives to enlighten, energize and empower the younger generation of Indian community to be highly competent in acquiring diverse soft skills and life skills", said Maritheri. "We would lend them a helping hand in acquiring writing and communication skills and know-how of media work, which includes print, visual, and social media,” he added.