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'We will harness Arab youth's energy for better future'

Dubai - The UAE believes that the voices of the youth are crucial to the way "we shape our future", the Youth Minister said.

The Arab Youth Survey is an important step towards building better understanding of the aspirations, hopes and fears of the region's youth, the youth minister has said.
"But the bottom line is: How can we harness the energy and potential of Arab youth and use it to build a better future. How can we prepare our young generation to meet and face its own future? The leadership of the UAE has seen that way forward clearly," said Shamma bint Sohail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs.
The UAE believes that the voices of the youth are crucial to the way "we shape our future", she said. "We believe that inspiring and encouraging our youth to inform our decision-making and our vision for the future means they take an active rather than a passive role in governance."
She quoted His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as having said earlier: "I always encourage young people by telling them do not worry about small beginnings, but dream of great results."
The minister said the country has been defining its 100-day plan for youth affairs, mapping this vision for youth inclusion into a reality; building initiatives that give voice to the community that represents over 40 per cent of the nation. "And by voice, I mean a realistic and action-based approach to defining a role for youth in national decision-making.
"In building a National Youth Strategy, we are aiming to create a solid tangible connection between our youth and our government and ensure a mutual recognition and acceptance of shared responsibility for the future of our nation."
"Across government, we are aiming to define new approaches to entrepreneurialism. We are building youth councils and other platforms for crowd-sourcing new ideas ... We are seeking to inspire, to drive participation and collaboration and to celebrate the extraordinary. We want to find and nurture talent. And we want to award the amazing. It is our aim to make young Emiratis the best example of youth around the world.
"Alongside the UAE's investments in new sustainable resources such as nuclear and solar energy, it is our aim to tap into the greatest sustainable energy resource our nation holds today. That energy ... is the energy of our youth," she concluded.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com