Half a decade of empowering entrepreneurs, Bedaya celebrates anniversary

The Bedaya Centre for Entrepreneurship and Career Development (Bedaya Centre), a joint initiative by Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and Silatech, recently-celebrated its fifth anniversary, it was announced.
Since its establishment, Bedaya Centre provided a range of services for young people in Qatar with training programmes and activities designed to help young men and women to achieve career goals and develop entrepreneurial skills.
QDB CEO Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa, who is also chairman of Bedaya Centre, said: “We take great pride to share this milestone, which indeed is an extraordinary accomplishment and determination for lasting success of an organisation that has worked effectively to empower young people.
“Bedaya's mission has been to provide solid support when it’s needed the most, and the centre’s professionals and specialists have truly exemplified our mission in action. We are proud of the hope and support we’ve been able to provide each year to individuals looking for career guidance and training.”
The Bedaya Center provides career guidance tools as well as offer a number of job shadowing opportunities for students who wish to explore a work environment. Bedaya also delivers entrepreneurship and innovation workshops, advisory sessions, and enable participation in Bedaya entrepreneurship programmes.
Bedaya Centre vice chairman Faisal al-Emadi said: “Under Silatech's partnership in Qatar, Bedaya Centre is the only public centre which offers Qatar's youth a range of services for young people in Qatar, including career guidance and self-assessment skills development in entrepreneurship and employability mentoring volunteering and internship opportunities.”
Bedaya Centre’s achievements in career development have included several major initiatives and activities that have benefitted 15,000 Qatari youth. Several agreements have been signed with different educational institutions and corporations, and Bedaya has reached out to 40 independent schools, as well as 12 international schools.
Additionally, Bedaya has delivered over 400 workshops to young entrepreneurs in Qatar and completed the independent schools counsellors career advice training programme, in partnership with Hamad bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and the Supreme Education Council to ensure all young people can access career development advice at their school.
Bedaya Centre general manager Reem al-Sowaidi said: “Encouraging more young people to start up their own business has been the key focus of Bedaya Centre. Thus, over the years, we have brought together numerous private and public sector organisations to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the state.”
She added: “This also reflects Bedaya Centre’s positive impact on the Qatari entrepreneurial community through its continued efforts to develop the skills of young entrepreneurs and foster their innovative ideas and projects that contribute to achieving Qatar National Vision 2030. This is based on Bedaya Centre’s belief that SMEs have a pivotal role in achieving sustainable economic development.”