Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, delivering the opening remarks at the forum.
The second Doha Forum: Youth Edition discussed issues revolving around education and climate change in the presence of H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice-Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, yesterday.
The event organised by Doha Forum and Qatar Foundation attracted more 200 participants at the Minaretein building (College of Islamic Studies) in Education City, Doha.
H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports; H E Sheikh Thani bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani; H E Lolwah Al Khater, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Executive Director of Doha Forum; and Jayathma Wickramanayake, the UN Special Envoy on Youth, and several other dignitaries were present at the opening session of the second Doha Forum: Youth Edition.
The Forum brought together young people and engaged in dialogue, diplomacy, and diversity, in topics of Climate Change: The Power and Responsibility of the Next Generation; Education Politics in Conflict Zones: The Quest for Identity; and Radicalisation and Role of Education in its Prevention, during panel debates in both English and Arabic, nurturing leadership and advocacy skills and highlighting the paramount importance of education.
Wickramanayake in her opening remarks emphasized the important investment in education and the need to increase knowledge about climate change across the world.
“The Doha Forum: Youth Edition shows the commitment of country’s leadership and it sends out a powerful message that how Qatar values the leadership and participation of the young people in conversations that govern our world today,” said Wickramanayake in her opening remarks.
She recalled a visit to the Qatar National Library in early this year and said, “The Library is a proof of the commitment that the leadership of Qatar invests in education and knowledge, within the country and abroad.”The Doha Forum: Youth Edition aims to enhance the debating skills of young people, and engage them in discussions on issues trending around the world, a precursor to the annual Doha Forum. It is an immersive two-day forum that will gather global leaders for constructive dialogue on December 14 and 15.
“I am delighted at the success of this year’s second Doha Forum: Youth Edition. Providing a dedicated youth platform and opportunity to engage and debate on high profile topics such as climate change, it is clear to see just how much the youth of today have to contribute to thought leadership, while engaging in the culture of diplomacy, dialogue and diversity. It is with great anticipation that we now await this year’s Doha Forum in December,” said Lolwah Al Khater.
Panel debates were led by youth leaders in a range of fields, including Muzoon Almellhan, activist and the youngest Goodwill Ambassador to Unicef, Rümeysa Kadak, member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and Shoaib Rahim, Acting Mayor of Kabul.
Almellehan highlighted on her experience, living in a conflict zone for most of her young life, and how education opportunities she was provided with made a significant positive difference in her life.
Mayan Zebeib, Chief Communications Officer, Qatar Foundation, said, “The Doha Forum: Youth Edition has demonstrated the depth of awareness of global issues among our youth, their determination to have their say on how their world will evolve and unfold, and their recognition of what education means not just to them, but to all of humanity.”
