CAIRO: Under the theme of promoting dialogue and mutual understanding, the National Project for Arab Youth was launched on Wednesday in Cairo. The Arab Youth Council for Integrated Development in collaboration with the United Nations Information Center in Cairo launched the project at a conference at the Arab League headquarters. The global framework is Youth International Day on August 12 as well as the start of “International Year of Youth,” proclaimed by the United Nations Organization on December 18, 2009. Amr Moussa, secretary general of the Arab League, and Moshira Abu Ghali, chairwoman of the Arab Youth Council, highlighted the importance of youth and the role this initiative can play in the future of the region. From July 27 to August 4, youth form around the 22 member states of the Arab League will participate in a sort of cultural exchange and dialogue through conferences and touristic visits around Egypt. With the slogan “My patrimony is my Arab origin,” the project aims to enforce the spirit and identity of the region among the younger generation by better acquainting them with each other's civilization and culture. Moussa said that youth “drive the development wheel of Arab nations' future.” He added, “This conference highlights the Arab League's keenness on supporting…all that is related to our youth.” Youth present at the event wore traditional clothes of their respective countries creating a colorful blend of Palestinian scarves, Comoros' dresses and Yemenite swords. “We are here to carry a good image of our country,” said Reydan Al-Kumaim from the Yemen Youth General Union, who was accompanied by his 10-year-old brother, Hussein. Elmehdi Ezzouate, president of the Moroccan Association of Young Citizens, said, “The week will be interesting in Egypt, but we must not forget we are also here to [discuss] problems between our nations. Visas should be delivered quicker for Arab youth to travel and meet each other. There is also a lack of university partnerships.” Moshira Abu Ghali advised the youth to “take your future into your own hands and don't allow strangers to define it for you; for they make a future that serves their interests and desires.”
