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450 youths gather for 6th annual forum
Inspirational 3-day conference at Qatar Foundation Student Center
The 6th EMPOWER Youth Conference 2014 on Leadership, Service Learning and Global Citizenship, organized by Qatar’s leading educational not-for-profit organization Reach Out To Asia (ROTA), begins at Qatar Foundation Student Center, Doha, on 27 March.
Qatar’s largest annual youth gathering, expects to attract up to 450 youth between the ages of 16 and 26 with a strong 3-day conference focusing on Leadership, Service Learning and Global Citizenship. In particular, organizers will be integrating Sports, Environment, Skills Development and the Arabic language as key themes of the EMPOWER 2014 program.
This year’s event is sponsored by Msheireb Properties, a real estate company and a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation . The company was established as a commercial venture to support the Foundation’s aims and the Qatar National Vision 2030.
“We are very excited to launch EMPOWER 2014. Our awaited event will focus on Sports for Youth Empowerment and will provide our youth with an incredible experience to be shared with renowned international figures as the activist and philanthropist Dr. Auma Obama and the video message of UN Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace Mr. Wilfried Lemke in addition to youth activists from different countries in the world”, said Essa Al Mannai, ROTA Executive Director.
“Through sport, we are sure our youth will discover talents they never knew they had – how to strive to be the best they can be – the importance of teamwork – how to compete with dignity and generosity in victory or defeat”, he explained.
Following the success of 2013, ROTA has invited regional youth activists this year. This will be a good platform for youth from different regions to network with the youth in Qatar; eight organizations from the United States of America, India, the United Kingdom, Lebanon and Qatar will take part in the conference and share their capabilities with Empower’s youth: Right to play (Lebanon), Coaches across continents (USA), Liverpool Sport Club Foundation (UK), Magic Bus (India), Aspire Academy, Aspetar, Qatar football association and Qatar Olympic Committee.
Besides, EMPOWER delegates will attend several workshops that will focus on exploring the theme of Sports for Youth Empowerment and will be able to share ideas, expertise, knowledge and common grounds while improving their talents and abilities.
In addition to the inspiring speech that Dr. Obama will be delivering at the opening day of the conference and the encouraging words of youth activists, EMPOWER 2014 Day 2 will feature a packed program of creative workshops facilitated by leading experts in the fields of youth development, leadership, service learning, global citizenship, environment and sports.
The presence of the acclaimed author, activist and philanthropist and President Barack Obama’s half-sister, Dr.Auma Obama, will add a lot to the students’ participation. Dr. Obama, is the Founder and Director of the Sauti Kuu Foundation. Sauti Kuu is Kiswahili for “Powerful Voices”. The Foundation seeks to give perspective to disadvantaged children and youth by helping them unlock their potential, in particular through Life Skills training and educational opportunities that lead to economic sustainability. The Foundation’s sponsorship programs in sports, education, nutrition and health are designed to help youth lead self-determined lives. The foundation is based on the principle of ‘Self-Help’ and aims to support and motivate the younger generations to take their fate into their own hands and be the makers of their own destiny.
For Empower delegates, a video contribution from Mr. Lemke is a guaranteed treat. As Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, Mr. Lemke is responsible for heading the efforts of the UN system in promoting understanding and support for sport as an instrument for development and peace as well as encouraging dialogue, collaboration and partnership. Since the International Year of Sport and Physical Education in 2005, United Nations Member States have better understood the role of sport in development and peace in their national legislation and policies.
Furthermore, the second day will also feature 10 concurrent workshops and a seminar. These workshops will define and explore Leadership skills in a sports activity, Communication and motivation. Audience members will learn how the transformative power of sport can be used in inspiring hope and motivation among youth to become positive agents of change in their community.
Taking place on the final day of EMPOWER 2014 will be dedicated for service learning event that will include different offsite activities, flash stories from around the world and Cultural Performances.
Al Mannai added: “EMPOWER 2014 will be a platform for youth from different countries to network with the youth of Qatar. As well as an excellent opportunity for other regions to learn from our best practices, EMPOWER 2014 gives Qatari youth the chance to unite with youth from around the world.”
EMPOWER 2014′s main objective is to encourage individuals to challenge themselves in an environment alien to them; an exciting experience which becomes a worthwhile educational experience. At the same time, the conference epitomizes the “work hard, play hard” ethic, as all delegates, facilitators and observers display both a serious professionalism combined with wit and humor when approaching the various EMPOWER activities.
“EMPOWER’s innovative program guarantees participants will not only leave them armed with new knowledge and skills, but with a collection of memories and friendship circles that reach out across the world,” promises Al Mannai.”In the space of three days, through interactive debates, workshops, lectures and off-site projects, 450 Qatari youth will return home with the tools and the self-confidence empowering them to become the local and global leaders of tomorrow.”
For the latest EMPOWER 2014 news, visit www.reachouttoasia.org or the ROTA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/reachouttoasia