Reach Out To Asia’s three-day conference promoting personal leadership, service learning and global citizenship kicks off tomorrow night with a televised inter-school debate at Qatar Foundation’s atrium.
The conference ‘Empower 2009’ will also mark the launch of Rota’s new Youth Development Programme in Qatar, which is aimed at mobilising and inspiring leadership and civic responsibility among the country’s youth, through service learning.
“We’re all very excited to see this event start tomorrow, and what could be more exciting than to begin with a student-led debate? I think we’re going to hear some very interesting arguments and thoughts on the direction of the youth here in Qatar today,” said Alberta Stevens, head of Reach Out To Asia Qatar (Rotaq).
The students will argue for and against a motion of critical importance to young people in Qatar.
The main conference will follow on the second day at the Doha Sheraton Hotel, with a series of lectures and workshops delivered by renowned local and international speakers, youth-led roundtable discussions and artistic expressions.
“This is not just a conference for the youth, but it has also been designed with the youth. We’ve been working hard over the last few months to make all this come together, and to give the youth in Qatar a real opportunity to grow into leaders and give back to their communities in relevant and meaningful ways,” Stevens added.
On the third day the delegates will take part in a series of off-site community service projects, including visiting patients at Hamad Hospital, renovating a house for a less fortunate family and producing a short film on a youth issue.
The conference is open only to those between 15 and 24 years old, and observers who have pre-registered on the Rotaq events website.
Reach Out To Asia is a not-for-profit organisation launched in December 2005 in Doha by HE Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.
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