‘Egyptian Experience, Future in the Making’: Discussing youth potential

CAIRO – 6 November 2017: Youth experiences and attempts in taking leading roles within a society were the main theme of “The Egyptian Experience, Future in the Making” session at the World Youth Forum (WYF) Monday.

With the participation of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, several ministers, officials and young people, the idea of empowering youth within society was discussed; including the state’s procedures and measures taken to give youth the chance to participate and take leading roles within society.

Graduates of the presidential leadership program spoke during the session about their experiences, explaining that the further studies they took during the program sessions expanded their perceptions and awareness regardless of their individual experiences, specialization and studies.

During the session, Planning Minister Hala Al-Saeed said that there is a huge number of young people participating in the presidential program sessions, as a third batch is expected to graduate soon to join the other 2,000 graduates.

One of the program’s graduates said that all of the two patches were working as volunteers in organizing the WYF with huge motive and desire to come up with something appropriate alongside their country’s [Egypt] name.

President Sisi contributed in the session and gave short speeches commenting on the officials and youth discussions. “There is real political will to empower young people within the Egyptian society,” Sisi said.

He also added that there is no real clash of civilizations within our societies, “but there is ego-centrism, selfishness and disrespect for different cultures.”

Talking about the presidential leadership program, Sisi said that it was initially a young person’s idea to establish a platform which enables all youth to have a real chance to voice their opinions within society.

“Our forum today was another idea of one of the youth as well, which we decided to turn into an annual event in parallel with the regular youth meeting,” Sisi added.

Sisi addressed youth during the session, saying, “my message [to you] is accept and respect others regardless of religions and cultures; a clash is a possibility, but communication is a must.”

He explained that clashes and conflicts take place in the world as a result of some people’s sense of superiority due to their religion, culture or race, “although God created us all different.”

“Acceptance is not necessarily admitting to others’ religions or doctrines; however, we all have to accept each other and communicate rather than clash,” Sisi added.
On Sunday, President Sisi inaugurated the World Youth Forum events, welcoming all participants including youth and world leaders. In his speech, Sisi spoke fervently about the danger that terrorism poses on all humanity and Egypt’s fight against extremism.