DOHA: Reach Out To Asia (Rota) has opened online registration for the 5th Empower Youth Conference 2013 taking place at Qatar National Convention Center from March 28 to 31.
‘Empower 2013’ expects to attract up to 400 youth between the ages of 16 and 26 with a strong three-day programme focusing on leadership, service learning and global citizenship. In particular, organisers will be integrating sports, environment, skills development and the Arabic language as key themes of the programme.
To register online for Empower 2013, visit http://www.reachouttoasia.org/ar/event-details/Empower-2013/registration-form-ar (Arabic) or http://www.reachouttoasia.org/en/event-details/Empower-2012/registration-form (English).
“Empower 2013 is a unique platform for youth to discover their voice, realise their potential to make a positive contribution and develop their skills, knowledge and attitudes to take on active leadership roles within their communities,” explained Rota Community Development Manager and National Programmes Director Mohamed Abdullah Saleh.
Empower 2013 aims to build on the success of four previous Empower conferences by continuing to raise awareness and build knowledge and capacity to enable young people to take leadership roles to address local and international developmental issues that concern them.
Since the event’s inauguration in 2009, Empower has gained a reputation for being the first youth-led conference in Qatar to focus on equipping young people to take active roles in building their communities and having a voice on global issues.
Demonstrating the wisdom of Rota’s decision to ensure Empower remains a youth-led conference, Empower 2013 has been organised in collaboration with a planning committee comprising 30 youth volunteers.
The planning committee serves Empower by assisting Rota in planning, implementing and coordinating certain elements of the conference. Whilst the planning committee attend planning meetings as well as allocate time and effort to implement their tasks, Rota commits to providing training, workshops and a learning experience.
This year the theme for Empower 2013 will be ‘Water Cooperation’. In December 2010, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2013 as the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation. In reflection of this declaration, 2013 World Water Day, which will take place on March 22, the conference will be dedicated to water cooperation.
“Empower 2013 will focus on creating awareness on water cooperation. The event will provide an opportunity for 400 youth to develop their skills, knowledge and attitudes to take on leadership roles which support Rota strategies,” added Saleh.
THE PENINSULA
