Jordan Times
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Queen Rania gives the concept of youth a facelift
AMMAN (JT) — A youthful spirit lies within us all. To reveal it, all we need to do is look within ourselves and reinvigorate how we view the world. This was the message behind Her Majesty Queen Rania's opening remarks at the “Youth and Entrepreneurship” session of the World Economic Forum on Saturday.
“My point is, the most precious aspects of youth
are not tied to ages or stages. Preserving them doesn't mean clinging to the
past — it means embracing the future,” the Queen said.
Addressing an audience that included HRH Prince Feisal, entrepreneurs,
government officials, business leaders and several Arab youth, Queen Rania
stressed that people's general perception of what is meant by youth has to
change in order to enable them to positively interact with the challenges and
opportunities brought about by the 21st century.
Queen Rania was speaking at a time when the region is faced with the challenge
of creating 50 million jobs in the next five years.
“Changing that from a challenge to an opportunity,” she said, “requires a
fundamental transformation in the way we do business — with a dynamic private
sector driving growth and creating opportunity.”
The answer to creating such opportunities, Queen Rania asserted, lies in “our
mind-set, attitude and approach to life.”
“Our challenge, and the challenge of our esteemed panel, is to think of ways to
“spread more youthful values across the full spectrum of society,” she added.
This session builds upon the Queen's call at last year's WEF, to integrate youth
and place them centre stage at such forums and involve them in strategic
discussions in developing their communities.
The call was followed on by the creation of the Young Global Leaders Forum by
WEF, with Queen Rania as a member of the nomination committee.
The Forum of Young Global Leaders is a newly formed, unique, multi-stakeholder
community of 1,111 exceptional young leaders who share a commitment to shaping
the global future. The forum brings together young leaders who are currently
internationally prominent and those who are destined for future greatness. This
year, 239 such exemplary individuals have been selected.
The session included a panel of representatives from the region, namely Majid Al
Ghurair and Arif Naqvi, two Young Global Leaders, from the United Arab Emirates
as well as two youth, selected from the 15 Arab youth who were invited to WEF,
by His Majesty King Abdullah, who interacted with one another deliberating the
above issues and questions.
“Employ us, we are not only the future, we are the present,” urged Ahmad Al
Hassan, a youth panelist who participated in WEF.
At the end of the forum, the participating youth will release a statement on
their perception of the reform process in the Arab world.
Hassan called on Queen Rania to “unleash the power of youth,” and urged
governments to integrate youth in decisions affecting them and their future.
The Queen noted that entrepreneurship demands that we tear down barriers, build
up a social foundation, and create a sturdy platform to support young people and
help them reach their dreams.