NEW YORK CITY: During an event at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday, young men and women from the Arab world discussed youth participation in public life, employment and education, along with opportunities for empowerment.
One of the key themes of the Youth Forum for the Arab States Region, which was organized by the UN Economic and Social Council, was the transition from “Learning to Earning,” which included discussions of educational opportunities, the state of the job market, and other factors that can affect a young person’s progression from education to employment.
The event also gave young Arabs a chance to share their stories and projects, showcase their achievements, and discuss ways in which they can help to empower other young people from the region through their experiences of education, employment and volunteering.
Men and women from Sudan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Yemen, Qatar and Oman, among other states in the region, talked about the experiences that helped shape not only their careers but their outlooks on life, and their success stories.
Youth unemployment in the Arab world was a major topic of discussion. Hany Anan from Lebanon, who chaired the session, said that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate among young people stood at about 29 percent in North Africa, and about 24 percent in Arab countries in the Middle East. He added that the rate among women in the Arab world was higher, between 36 and 40 percent.
According to the UN figures, one in five people in the Arab world is between the ages of 15 and 24, and more than half of a population of more than 400 million is below the age of 25.
Mayada Adil, a Sudanese refugee, doctor, fashion designer and campaigner for health-equity rights for women, told the forum that she focuses on “sustainable development” that allows young people to shape their own futures by making choices that enhance their personal and professional development.
She added that she expects a major shift in the Arab world toward digitization and the optimization of job markets, and so there is a need to train young people in the subjects and skills they will need to meet future labor demands and integrate themselves into the economic and social infrastructure.
“Let’s make concrete efforts to invest in the potential of our youth,” Adil said.
Asmae El-Hajji, a young mother and researcher, talked about her experience of voluntary work at a young age in her native Morocco and how that had influenced her personality and career path, and had a positive effect on her earnings.
Talal Ahmed, from Yemen, encouraged new and recent graduates in the region to look for “alternative ways to make income” rather than focusing solely on the traditional job market, for example by following an entrepreneurial path and starting their own businesses.
Aceel Radi, an environmental specialist from Saudi Arabia, highlighted a number of initiatives launched by authorities in the Kingdom to invest in the potential of the young Saudi population.
She pointed out that the number of young people in the Arab world is projected to reach 92 million by 2030 and said her country is actively working to boost development and sustainability among Saudi youth.
Abdullah Mohammed Al-Mohannadi from Qatar and Shamsah from Oman discussed the role of education in preparing young people for future job markets.
Al-Mohannadi said the Qatari government has established several universities in the country and encourages international educational institutions to set up campuses there as part of its strategy to empower the youth population in support of the strategic national vision for the future.
Shamsah said that Oman is committed to sustainability and the diversification of the skills among its young population. Training in soft skills, such as financial services, tourism and digitization, is key to the nation’s investment in youth, she added.
