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Ailyn Agonia
DOHA
The 11th edition of Reach Out to Asia’s (ROTA) Empower Youth Conference 2019 (Empower) kicked off at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University Student Center on Thursday with the participation of a large number of young people between the ages of 16 and 32.
The opening of the three-day conference was attended by Education Above All (EAA) CEO Fahad al Sulaiti, National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Chairman Dr Ali bin Smaikh al Marri and Executive President of Woman in Africa Initiative Dr Hafsat Abiola-Costello.
The theme of this year’s conference ‘Youth- A Catalyst for Peace and Dialogue for Development’ bears greater importance in today’s current state of affairs regionally and globally as the United Nations has proclaimed 2019 as the International Year of Moderation.
Speaking on the occasion, ROTA Associate Executive Director Abdulla al Abdulla said the theme adds significant value to Education Above All’s (EAA) vision in bringing new life chances, hope and opportunities to improve the lives of youth.
He added that the event reaffirms EAA’s belief in unlocking human potential and encouraging collaboration through its efforts to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 on education, through the promotion of peace, tolerance and understanding as well as an appreciation of cultural diversity and its contribution to sustainable development.
He said, “The past editions have proven our Qatari youths’ capabilities and their determination towards such social endeavours. This year’s conference will once again strengthen their objective to drive change through meaningful contributions. The event is intended to harness youth’s enthusiasm and creativity, with the support of ROTA staff, which will contribute in meeting Qatar’s development goals and Qatar National Vision 2030.
“It is aimed at raising awareness, increase knowledge and build capacity of young people in Qatar and the world to empower them as catalysts for peace and dialogue for development. We are confident that the coming days are going to be quite eventful in bringing a holistic societal change that we want to see and help Qatar flourish in all spectrums of growth.”
In his remarks, Dr Marri stressed the need to provide young people with good education, effective health services, psychological support, platform to voice their opinions to the decision makers, among others, in order to empower them to be catalysts of change.
“In order for the youth to be involved in the development process, they must have a role in society, a role in the media and a role in public affairs. We must allow the youth to communicate their voices to policy and strategy makers and listen to their views seriously and respectfully. I would like to emphasise on youth’s confidence in the human values and their faith in equality, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, culture, class, sectarian or social affiliation, makes a huge difference,” said the NHRC chairman.
The conference will feature seminar, panel discussion, speeches, small group workshops, presentations, exhibition, inspirational success stories and off-site visits. Workshops will address the three elements of the Youth Programme – Leadership, Service Learning and Global Citizenship.
DOHA
The 11th edition of Reach Out to Asia’s (ROTA) Empower Youth Conference 2019 (Empower) kicked off at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University Student Center on Thursday with the participation of a large number of young people between the ages of 16 and 32.
The opening of the three-day conference was attended by Education Above All (EAA) CEO Fahad al Sulaiti, National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Chairman Dr Ali bin Smaikh al Marri and Executive President of Woman in Africa Initiative Dr Hafsat Abiola-Costello.
The theme of this year’s conference ‘Youth- A Catalyst for Peace and Dialogue for Development’ bears greater importance in today’s current state of affairs regionally and globally as the United Nations has proclaimed 2019 as the International Year of Moderation.
Speaking on the occasion, ROTA Associate Executive Director Abdulla al Abdulla said the theme adds significant value to Education Above All’s (EAA) vision in bringing new life chances, hope and opportunities to improve the lives of youth.
He added that the event reaffirms EAA’s belief in unlocking human potential and encouraging collaboration through its efforts to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 on education, through the promotion of peace, tolerance and understanding as well as an appreciation of cultural diversity and its contribution to sustainable development.
He said, “The past editions have proven our Qatari youths’ capabilities and their determination towards such social endeavours. This year’s conference will once again strengthen their objective to drive change through meaningful contributions. The event is intended to harness youth’s enthusiasm and creativity, with the support of ROTA staff, which will contribute in meeting Qatar’s development goals and Qatar National Vision 2030.
“It is aimed at raising awareness, increase knowledge and build capacity of young people in Qatar and the world to empower them as catalysts for peace and dialogue for development. We are confident that the coming days are going to be quite eventful in bringing a holistic societal change that we want to see and help Qatar flourish in all spectrums of growth.”
In his remarks, Dr Marri stressed the need to provide young people with good education, effective health services, psychological support, platform to voice their opinions to the decision makers, among others, in order to empower them to be catalysts of change.
“In order for the youth to be involved in the development process, they must have a role in society, a role in the media and a role in public affairs. We must allow the youth to communicate their voices to policy and strategy makers and listen to their views seriously and respectfully. I would like to emphasise on youth’s confidence in the human values and their faith in equality, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, culture, class, sectarian or social affiliation, makes a huge difference,” said the NHRC chairman.
The conference will feature seminar, panel discussion, speeches, small group workshops, presentations, exhibition, inspirational success stories and off-site visits. Workshops will address the three elements of the Youth Programme – Leadership, Service Learning and Global Citizenship.
