Empowering the next generation of storytellers
In a region where young people often feel unheard, SAT-7’s Youth for an Enabling Society (YES) project is empowering them to create and showcase their own stories through its internship training scheme and youth film festival, which has been attracting national media attention.
The internship scheme, involving participants from Egypt, Syria and Sudan, culminated last week with a graduation ceremony during the Our Generation Film Festival. Four of the interns participated in the festival, which attracted 96 short films and 46 photography pieces from across the Arab region.
Held in partnership with the Catholic Media Center in Cairo, the event drew remarkable media attention in Egypt, with coverage from 45 news outlets. And on Wednesday (15 October), SAT-7 Egypt’s Executive Director, Maged Mounir, and YES Project Lead, Rafik George, were interviewed on Egypt’s national television channel about the festival.
“We care deeply about investing in young people,” Maged said. “We want to empower them to produce meaningful short films and to see art as a tool for values and positive change in society.”
Opening doors
Ahead of the film festival, the YES project’s media internship programme was designed to give young people practical, hands-on experience in content creation. Out of 150 university applicants, 26 were selected to train with SAT-7’s media professionals in Egypt, giving young Arabs a way into the media. It saw participants spend weeks in training and workshops, then an intensive residential camp with industry professionals, before forming teams to create their own short films. And for the young people involved, the impact has been transformative.
“I’ve always been a big fan of SAT-7 since I was a child,” said 23-year-old intern Martina Botros. “This was like a dream. I learned so much – not just editing, but how to create and tell stories. Everyone supported me and helped me control my anxiety and improve.”
For many, an opportunity like this matters deeply. In the MENA region, the youth unemployment rate, at 24.4 per cent in 2023, is almost double the global average.
This stark reality reflects a deeper issue: education and training systems often fail to equip young people with the skills needed for secure futures. In such a context, the chance to learn professional media skills, grow personally, and discover a voice that can be heard is rare and precious.
“I thought it was a short course, but it turned out to be much bigger,” said 28-year-old Sardis Moussa from Sudan. “I have a passion for the media. I learned a lot about editing and it made a difference to me to work on a film in all its aspects. I am happy with what I learned.”
The YES internship scheme developed out of a small pilot conducted by SAT-7’s Egypt office for eight participants last year.
“We wanted to give young people from the region an opportunity they would otherwise not have had, to learn firsthand from media professionals about how to tell their own stories,” said Rafik. “This wasn’t just about practical skills, but also about helping them find their calling in life and make their voices heard in society.”