HE Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh Al-Thani Opens EMPOWER 2012 Youth Conference

Doha, April 20 (QNA)- Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) Board Member HE Sheikha Dr. Aisha bint Faleh Al-Thani on Friday welcomed 350 youth delegates from Qatar, the GCC and Japan at the Opening Ceremony of the 4th EMPOWER Youth Conference 2012 taking place at the 5-star La Cigale Hotel thru Saturday 21 April. The EMPOWER 2012 programme features a motivational mix of skill-building workshops, inspirational keynote speeches, interactive seminars and fascinating off-site project activities plus a variety of social and cultural events, and exhibitions. "As key stakeholders in the future of Qatar, youth have a vital role to play in determining progress towards a more peaceful, equal and prosperous world," HE Sheikha Aisha told the audience. "With this in mind, EMPOWER 2012 brings together key players among the youth including for the first time guests from neighbouring GCC countries and Japan - to share views and exchange experiences, to acquire additional skills needed to tackle the issues that really matter to young people in all countries." Against a background of youth concern about environmental issues and climate change, EMPOWER 2012 kicked off with Road to RIO +20 , a two-part seminar facilitated by the President of Peace Child International, David Woollcombe. After a rousing debate on the first day of EMPOWER 2012 outlining pressing global issues of sustainable development and poverty eradication, delegates passionate about environmental issues were keen to make their opinions known during a vibrant panel discussion and open debate. Delegate contributions to the Road to Rio +20 seminar will now form the basis for a paper to be presented at the 6th World Youth Congress taking place in Rio De Janeiro this coming June. Emphasizing Qatar s increasing influence in world sport, a second key theme of EMPOWER 2012 is the important role sports can play at the individual and community levels. During the 3-day conference delegates have the opportunity to participate in a number of sports-based activities. Elaborating HE Sheikha Dr. Aisha further said, "ROTA believes passionately that sport brings people together and teaches them important life lessons. Sports-based development programs promote employment creation, entrepreneurship and education. For example, ROTA s Generation Amazing football development program has help 3,000 youth in Pakistan and Nepal through sports education," HE Sheikha Dr. Aisha told the EMPOWER audience. EMPOWER 2012 Day 2 continued with an exciting programme of 14 creative workshops offered in Arabic and English and facilitated by leading experts in the fields of youth development, leadership, service learning, global citizenship, environment and sports. Sandwiched between the morning and afternoon sessions was a lunch time exhibition to promote community initiatives being undertaken by ROTA departments and partner organisations in Qatar. "After the inspirational speeches and seminars on the opening day of EMPOWER 2012, delegates were eager to get their teeth into a focused programme designed to provide the youth with education-specific tools, technologies and skills that can help them reach their potential," explained ROTA Director Essa Al Mannai. The World Youth Congress and Road To Rio +20 are initiatives by Peace Child International. (QNA)