MUKALLA, May 13 — In the second phase of a successful project and the first of its kind in Hadramout, four hundred and thirty-eight schoolboys returned to class after dropping out on account of their poverty–stricken families.

The first voluntary and developmental project was financed by Al-Awan Development Foundation, a Mukalla-based charity, in cooperation with Right Start Foundation International.

The project marked the end of the second phase of Insan (human being) Project in Yemen, and was commemorated in a ceremony held last week at Balfaqeeh Cultural Centre in Mukalla city, the capital of Hadramout.

It was attended by prominent dignitaries including Hadramout Deputy Governor Awad Hatim, who praised Al-Awn Foundation for its successful work.

“My biggest joy was when I heard that the second phase of the project had been administered solely by volunteers from Hadramout, considering that the first phase was guided by Egyptian specialist trainers,” Hatim Said.

“This experience will instill a volunteer spirit among the youth to increase their role in combating poverty and illiteracy, and eliminating the dropout problem,” he added.

Hatim urged non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to benefit from this idea of helping families support themselves and live on their own. He called on everyone for full cooperation to promote the teamwork in all of life’s aspects.

For his part, Al-Awn Development Foundation Executive Manager Adel Bahumaid explained that the project began as an idea, but blossomed into an entire year of discussions between Al-Awn Foundation and Right Start Foundation International’s head Dr. Umr Khalid, a well-known Egyptian preacher.

“Hadramout was chosen to be the first arena for volunteer work in the Republic of Yemen,” Bahumaid said. “The dogged determination and energy of the youth encouraged the foundation to adopt the project,” he added.

Bahumaid noted that the project comes at a time when young people are facing many problems like school dropout. “The project’s aims are to find feasible and effective solutions through calling for volunteer work which meets widespread agreement by the youth,” he said. “Many families have been sponsored through groups of volunteers, with every group comprising five volunteers and one of them heading each project,” he explained. “The groups are tasked with helping families in education, health, and social problems provided that each family brings their children back to school, which is happening on the ground,” he added.

The executive manager promised that the second step of Insan Project in Yemen would not be the last, emphasizing that “getting qualified managers and voluntary youth” is the core of the project.

Dr. Umr Khalid, head of Right Start Foundation International, gave a recorded a speech in the ceremony in which he thanked Hadramout Governor Khalid Al-Daini and Bahumaid. Khaild urged the youth to “roll up their sleeves” and continue the volunteer work to make the Mukalla experience a universal one.