Latest news with #Sadaf
Biz Bahrain
a day ago
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
INJAZ Bahrain hosts the 17th Annual Young Entrepreneurs Competition
INJAZ Bahrain proudly concluded its 17th annual Young Entrepreneurs Competition at Crowne Plaza Bahrain, marking a significant milestone in fostering entrepreneurial spirit and innovation among Bahraini youth. Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairperson of INJAZ Bahrain, the event showcased the remarkable talents of over 1,000 students from local high schools and universities. This year's competition carries added significance as INJAZ Bahrain celebrates its 20th anniversary—marking two decades of empowering young minds and nurturing the Kingdom's future business leaders. The event featured a diverse array of 20 student companies, with 10 each from high school and university and levels. The students participated in intensive assessments, team-building activities, and inspiration sessions over two days, culminating in a grand Awards Ceremony that recognized outstanding achievements across various categories. This year, the competition also introduced five signature awards to highlight exceptional achievements. These include the 'Excellence in ESG Award' by Bapco Energies, 'Best Booth and Brand Award' by BASREC, 'Rising CEO Award' by bni, 'Best Financial Performance Award' by CrediMax and 'Excellence in Technology Award' by NBB Distinguished individuals served as judges in both the High School Track and the University Track, including representatives from prominent organizations including Ms. Dana Alhaddad from 'Beyon'; Eng. Jassim Darwish from 'GPIC'; Mr. Nezar Habib from 'stc Bahrain' and Al Khaja from 'Investcorp Holdings' in the High School Track; Mr. Abdulaziz Tawfeeqi from 'Infracorp'; Mr. Ali Alaradi from 'BDB'; Mr. Amin Sultan from 'Alba'; and Ms. Marwa Aleskafi from 'Tamkeen' in the University Track. INJAZ Bahrain also hosted signature awards judges; Ms. Buthaina Amin from 'Bapco Energies'; Ms. Narjis Almoosawi from 'BASREC'; Ms. Nada Mohamed from 'CrediMax'; Mr. Amgad Abdelaal from 'NBB' and Ms. Rayan Al Mahmood, Mr. Ammar Al Raees and Mr. Abdulla Al Basteki from 'bni'. The 2025 award winners include: Sadaf from British School of Bahrain won 2025 Innovative Venture Award for the High School Track Netajna from Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance won 2025 Innovative Venture Award for the University Track Nzr3 from Hidd Secondary Girls School won 2025 Global Impact Award for the High School Track Pitrolas from University of Bahrain won 2025 Global Impact Award for the University Track ReKlay from Naseem International School won 2025 Product of the Year for the High School Track Tabog from University of Bahrain won 2025 Product of the Year for the University Track Theemar from Beacon Private School won 2025 Company of the Year for the High School Track Ga6ra from American University of Bahrain won 2025 Company of the Year for the University Track Doobii from Al Falah Schools won Excellence in ESG Award (Presented by Bapco Energies) Sadaf from British School of Bahrain won Best Booth and Brand Award (Presented by BASREC) Tabog from University of Bahrain won Best Financial Performance Award (Presented by CrediMax) Ga6ra from American University of Bahrain won Excellence in Technology Award (Presented by NBB) Hood AlBuerki from Al Falah Schools won Rising CEO Award (Presented by bni) Two major announcements were made during the event: the official launch of the INJAZ Bahrain Company Program Series, a documentary series chronicling the journeys of participating students, and the closing ceremony of the second cycle of Entaliq by NBB, powered by INJAZ Bahrain, where student achievements and learnings were celebrated alongside NBB and INJAZ representatives. The event was generously supported by platinum sponsors Alba and Tamkeen, along with gold sponsor Beyon, and signature sponsors Bapco Energies, BASREC, bni, CrediMax, and NBB, underscoring the commitment of corporate Bahrain in nurturing young entrepreneurial talent. Commenting on the success of this year's competition, Her Highness Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa emphasized, 'INJAZ Bahrain remains dedicated to empowering our youth, providing them with platforms to unleash their creative potential and contribute to a thriving knowledge-based economy. As we celebrate 20 years of inspiring and equipping the next generation, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners, sponsors, volunteers, educators, and staff whose unwavering support has been instrumental in achieving our mission and driving lasting impact across the Kingdom.' The winning teams of the '2025 Company of the Year' awards will represent Bahrain at the regional Young Entrepreneurs competition organized by INJAZ Al Arab in November 2025 that will be held in Egypt, showcasing their achievements on a broader stage.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
From Kashmir to IITs: Meet the girls who cracked JEE Advanced 2025
'In my ten years of being a part of RISE, I don't know a single girl from Kashmir who cracked the JEE Advanced exam and went to an IIT,' says Salman Shahid, co-founder of RISE, an engineering coaching institute in Srinagar. Three Kashmiri girls, Maleeha, Sadaf, and Janees, have cleared the highly competitive JEE (Advanced) and secured admission to the IITs, breaking a gender barrier. In so doing, they extended the all-India trend of more girl students cracking JEE Advanced to their state of Kashmir. The JEE Advanced 2025 had 9,404 female candidates qualifying, the highest since 2017. The growth from 7,137 female qualifiers in 2017 (~14.1%) to 9,404 female qualifiers in 2025 (~17.3%) comes on the back of a concerted effort such as the introduction of a 20% female supernumerary quota at all the 23 IITs. Over the past decade, the number of students from Jammu and Kashmir gaining admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) has steadily increased, reflecting the growing impact of educational initiatives in the region. While exact year-wise statistics are limited, data from coaching programs such as the Indian Army's Kashmir Super 30 and private institutes like RISE provide a glimpse into this upward trend. In 2017, reportedly nine students from Kashmir cracked the IIT entrance exam through the Super 30 programme. This marked an important early milestone in improving access to top-tier technical education for students in the Valley. Between 2018 and 2020, RISE coaching institute played a role in taking the momentum forward, helping some 5-10 students each year secure seats in IITs. This pattern continued into the 2021-2025 period, with around 10 Kashmiri students annually gaining admission to premier engineering institutes. A particularly noteworthy development occurred in 2025, when two Kashmiri girls scored above 99 percentile in JEE Main. While the achievement is historic this year, the stories behind it are deeply personal for Janees and Sadaf. For Janees, the journey to IIT was shaped by both quiet defiance and unwavering self-belief. She has her sights set on IIT Kharagpur, though she says she's still exploring which stream she would like to pursue. 'I'm open to all subjects and ready to explore.' Sadaf, among the trio, describes the moment she saw her JEE Advanced result as 'deeply emotional.' She said: 'All the months of hard work, sacrifice, and long study hours had finally paid off.' She hopes to pursue her studies at IIT Delhi, with the long-term goal of giving back to society and inspiring other girls from Kashmir to dream bigger. The medical stereotype Like many girls in the Valley, Janees's parents were expecting her to follow the well-trodden path toward medicine. 'When I was in Class 10, my parents hoped I'd become a doctor. But once they saw how much I enjoyed Math and non-medical subjects, they didn't pressurise me,' she said. 'There was some hesitation because of the stereotype that engineering is for boys but they let me follow my passion. I wanted to become an engineer, and they supported me. Today, they are really happy.' Reflecting on her challenges, Sadaf points out the twin barriers of stereotype and limited exposure. 'One of the biggest challenges was fighting the idea that IIT is too ambitious or too tough for girls…there's also a lack of resources compared to metro cities.' To others walking the same path, Sadaf believes, 'don't let fear or stereotypes hold you back….intelligence and ambition have no gender…..surround yourself with people who uplift you, work consistently, and never underestimate your strength.' While Janees advised, 'confidence, hard work, and consistency is really important to be in the field and to adhere for what you want to do.' Beyond studies Outside the world of competitive exams and rigorous study schedules, Sadaf enjoys watching true crime documentaries and the occasional horror film. 'Sometimes I watch cricket with my brothers, but they're the real fans.' Though studies have consumed most of her recent months, she said that 'the environment at home is supportive and relaxed. It's the best place to recharge.' Beyond academics, Janees describes her home life as calming and comforting. 'Apart from studies, the environment at home is quite simple and cozy. I enjoy spending time with my family, and talking to them brings me a sense of peace…meeting my extended family during Eid is something I cherish. It's full of warmth and connection.' While JEE preparation didn't leave much room for extracurriculars recently, Janees carries fond memories from her school days when she trained in judo and even represented her State at the Khelo India Sub Junior Nationals. She calls it a memorable experience.
