The Ministry of Sports and Youth and Silatech Foundation today organized the “Youth Session” workshop in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for the GCC countries, under the theme “Enhancing Dialogue and Shaping Youth Skills for a Sustainable Future.”

The “Youth Session” aims to achieve sustainable development goals at both local and international levels, through four main objectives. These include empowering youth by providing them with a platform to express their opinions and aspirations, helping them face contemporary challenges and address environmental issues. The session also aims to facilitate dialogue and create a forum for initial discussions that feed into larger national and regional dialogues, ensuring that youth voices are integrated into decision-making processes, in line with the human development pillar of Qatar’s National Vision 2030.

The workshop also seeks to broaden inclusivity and representation by ensuring participation from a diverse range of voices, enriching the dialogue on youth-related issues. Additionally, it focuses on building networks and connecting youth with policymakers and community leaders to enhance collaboration and continuous communication.

The dialogue session held today contributes to enhancing policy impact, increasing civic engagement, and fostering sustainable dialogue by directing ideas and recommendations from youth discussions into formal policy dialogues. This aims to amplify the voice of youth in influencing decision-making processes at national and regional levels, particularly when it comes to policies related to social and economic empowerment for youth.

The initiative is expected to encourage further civic participation among youth, motivating them to play an active role in community development, and building a framework for sustainable dialogue that evolves with the changing needs and aspirations of youth, with a focus on their economic empowerment.

The “Youth Sessions” platform is designed to be a dynamic introduction to meaningful discussions, ensuring that youth voices are an integral part of shaping the future of their communities, promoting their empowerment at the social and economic levels, and ensuring inclusivity and continuous participation.

This initiative aims to promote vibrant dialogue that resonates at both national and regional levels. The UNFPA in the GCC intends to repeat this workshop across all GCC countries.

The workshop aims to enhance active youth engagement during this critical time, in line with the national visions of GCC countries, the second high-level regional meeting in 2024, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, developing innovative solutions aligned with Qatar’s National Vision 2030.

Ms. Maha Al-Rumaihi, Director of Planning, Quality, and Innovation at the Ministry of Sports and Youth, stated that the organization of this workshop stems from the ministry’s efforts to achieve its strategic directions, such as the Third National Development Strategy and the goals of Qatar’s National Youth Policy.

She added that the workshop represents an extension of the ministry’s efforts to empower youth, enhance their roles, and give them a voice in shaping the future of their community, in alignment with the Ministry’s vision of “Active, Responsible Youth with National Awareness and a Sports-Practicing Society.”

Al-Rumaihi praised the prominent role played by the Qatari youth participants in the workshop, enriching the discussions with their experiences, ideas, and success stories. She also commended the important role played by government partners, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (International Organizations Department), and their continuous efforts to develop and empower youth in the country.

Mr. Hassan Al-Mulla, CEO of Silatech Foundation, said: “We are delighted to be part of this initiative that brings together youth and decision-makers to enhance dialogue and shape youth skills for a sustainable future. Collaborating with the Ministry of Sports and Youth and the UNFPA gives us a unique opportunity to enable youth to actively participate in shaping their future and contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals at both local and regional levels.”

In the context of promoting inclusive dialogue and ensuring diverse perspectives are represented in national and regional discussions, the “Youth Sessions” platform is expected to be a key element of these conversations. The event will also feed into current national youth dialogues in each GCC country.