Doha, Qatar, 28 March 2013:  Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) board member H.E. Dr.  Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh opened the 5th Annual EMPOWER National Youth Conference, which began today at the Qatar National Convention Center.

This year's event is supported by Msheireb Properties, Qatar's leading sustainable developer and a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation.

Following the official opening, HE Sheikha Dr Aisha bint Faleh Al-Thani welcomed 400 youth delegates from Qatar, the GCC and the United Kingdom.

The Empower 2013 program features a mix of skill-building workshops, keynote speeches, interactive seminars and off-site project activities and various social and cultural events.

This year the theme proposed for EMPOWER 2013 is 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, the 2013 World Water Day, which took place on 22 March 2013, the conference, is dedicated to water cooperation.

"As key stakeholders in the future of Qatar, the youth have a vital role to play in determining progress towards a more peaceful, equal and prosperous world," HE Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh told the Empower delegates.

With this in mind, Empower 2013 brings together key players among the youth - including our neighbor from the GCC countries and United Kingdom - to share views and exchange experiences, to acquire additional skills needed to tackle the issues that really matter to young people in all countries."

HE Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh further said,  "We expect EMPOWER 2013 to be the best EMPOWER so far as youth delegates discover their voice, realize their potential to make a positive contribution and develop their skills, knowledge and attitudes to take on active leadership roles within their communities."

During the 3-day event, EMPOWER delegates will attend several workshops that will focus on exploring the theme of sustainable development and investigating the problems that can arise while engaging in development activities in the context of environmental sustainability.

Others highlights of the conference are designed to inspire, challenge and reward active participation, include seminar panel discussions, keynote speeches, lectures, group workshops, and off-site, service learning activities.

"The main aims of EMPOWER 2013 are to raise awareness and build knowledge and capacity to enable young people to take leadership roles in addressing local and international developmental issues of concern to them especially in the area of Sustainable Development and Sports" says ROTA Executive Director Mr. Essa Al Mannai.

"We look forward to meeting the region's youth leaders, hearing their opinions and ideas for tackling the community, social and environmental issues that really matter to the young people of the world." 

"EMPOWER 2013 will be a platform for youth from different countries to network with the youth of Qatar. As well as an excellent opportunity for other regions to learn from our best practices, EMPOWER 2012 gives Qatari youth the chance to unite with youth from around the world in preparation for the 2013 iEARN Annual Conference and Youth Summit being hosted by ROTA in July this  year," added Al Mannai.  

EMPOWER 2013 has attracted a host of top international and local Guest Speakers and Workshop Leaders led by Dr. Farhan Mujahid Chak and Dr. Essam Heggy, PhD.

Dr. Farhan Mujahid Chak is Assistant Professor of International Affairs at Qatar University and, also, teaching at Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies (QFIS) - Qatar Foundation, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, while Dr. Essam Heggy is a planetary scientist in the Radar Science Group at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Visiting Associate in Geology at the California Institute of Technology.

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.
 
About ROTA
Reach Out To Asia is a non-profit organization launched in December 2005 in Doha, Qatar, by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Operating under the auspices of the Qatar Foundation, ROTA is committed to providing high quality and relevant primary and secondary education, encouraging relationships among communities, creating safe learning environments and restoring education in crisis affected areas across Asia and around the world. ROTA envisions a world, where all young people have access to the education they need in order for them to realize their full potential and shape the development of their communities.

Further information on Reach Out To Asia can be found at: www.reachouttoasia.org

About Qatar Foundation
Founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, and chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser, Qatar Foundation is a private, non-profit organization committed to the principle that a nation's greatest natural resource is its people. The headquarters of Qatar Foundation are located within its flagship project, Education City. A fourteen million square-metre campus, Education City is home to numerous progressive learning institutions and centers of research, including branch campuses of six of the world's leading universities, plus a cutting-edge science and technology park. Qatar Foundation also works to enhance the quality of life in Qatar by investing in 'Education, Science and Technology and Community Health and Development'.

For further information please contact:
Krikor Khatchikian
Director
GREY doha
Telephone: +974 4428 3177
Email: krikor.khatchikian@cohnwolfedoha.com

© Press Release 2013