Jabal  Akhda  – The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, in partnership with Outward Bound Oman, launched the fifth edition of the ‘Musta’id’ (Ready) youth skills development camp in Jabal Akhdar, Al Dakhliyah Governorate, on Tuesday.

The four-day, three-night camp brings together Omani youth and participants from several Arab and international countries, with a programme designed to strengthen leadership, teamwork, communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills through practical challenges and experiential learning.

The Arabic-language programme has 32 participants, including 11 young people from Qatar, Bahrain, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria, alongside Omani youth. The group comprises 16 males and 16 females.

The English-language programme also has 32 participants, including young people from Kazakhstan, Brunei Darussalam, Singapore and Uzbekistan, alongside Omani participants. It also has an equal number of male and female participants.

Held in the mountainous surroundings of Jabal Akhdar, the camp features mountain trekking, camping, self-reliance exercises, dialogue workshops and review sessions.

Participants are introduced to future-oriented skills, including critical thinking, resilience and adaptability, leadership, project management, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Many activities follow the ‘Plan-Do-Review’ methodology, encouraging participants to assess situations, tackle challenges, make decisions and reflect on their experiences. The approach aims to help them apply the skills gained during the camp in their professional and social lives.

The participation of youth from different countries also promotes cultural exchange, allowing participants to share experiences, build connections and strengthen mutual understanding while working together on various activities and challenges. The camp is supervised and delivered by qualified national experts from Outward Bound Oman, combining learning, practical exercises and outdoor challenges to provide an intensive youth development experience.