It’s widely known that sensory experiences shape an individual's abilities, thoughts, and identity. Based on this belief, the Ghemar Adventure & Sports Initiative was founded in 2017 by Anas Hisham Shareefi, Nasser bin Khaled Aljoweir, and Malik bin Ahmed Alassaf. Ghemar is a youth-led initiative that aims to amplify the spirit of leadership within the youth, and provide them with opportunities for self-discovery through adventures, following a modern pedagogy, through which the initiative hopes to change young people’s view on learning.
The initiative aspires to expand the scope of its activities at the national level and to create an exemplary youth environment that meets their needs and interests. It seeks to create this environment by investing in the surrounding natural elements such as mountains, seas and valleys, using them as tools to break the fears of young people and create interactive educational opportunities. The initiative also aims to create an unconventional environment through its activities, an environment where the negative effects of internet addiction can be mitigated, the relationship between young individuals and the surrounding nature can be enhanced, and opportunities for self discovery are ample.
Nasser Aljoweir added that the initiative targets young people from 13 to 23 years old, i.e. from middle school to senior year of university. Young people can join the initiative by participating in weekly and seasonal activities such as climbing, diving, paragliding, and other adventures, in addition to training sessions and workshops.
When it comes to achievements, Malek Alassaf shared that Ghemar prides itself on having established the first naval camp for youth in the Kingdom in the city of Umluj, in addition to establishing valuable partnerships with the private and governmental sectors, as well as high engagement with its target audience. Despite these achievements and the uniqueness of the experience it provides, Ghemar faces multiple challenges, including limited funding, increasing costs of activities, as well as difficulty in obtaining official permits.
Ghemar is set apart from other initiatives by its spirited team members, the pedagogy it ascribes to, as well as its investment in the formation of social bonds between participants. The Ghemar team’s advice to those hoping to launch their own initiatives is to be bold, to consider any pitfalls as lessons and a natural part of the journey, and to remember that taking the first step is always the most difficult.
