Manama, October 1, 2024: The Kingdom of Bahrain hosted the grand finale of the inaugural The Arab Council for Youth Award, an initiative organized by The Arab Council for Youth (ACFY), headquartered at Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU), in partnership with the Arab Voluntary Union based in Bahrain, the event also in partnership with the League of Arab States, the United Nations Volunteers programme, the United Nations Population Fund UNFPA, the Arab Planning Institute in Kuwait, the World Youth Forum, and The International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID).
The ceremony was graced by the presence of His Excellency Osama Bin Ahmed Al-Asfoor, the Minister of Social Development, and His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and Honorary President of the Good Word Society, along with a host of dignitaries and prominent figures from both Bahrain and the Arab world.
The event witnessed the honoring of four youth initiatives that aligned with 21st-century skills and targeted the Sustainable Development Goals. These included: Your Platform for Training from Morocco, a Youth Helping Youth focused on innovative problem-solving, leadership, and decision-making from Egypt, Bevol Platform (Youth Platform for Volunteering and Social Entrepreneurship) from France, and a Promising Youth Initiative (Senses Project). Additionally, the ASEAN Youth Organization from Indonesia, The Education Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) – Morocco, and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Egypt were recognized under the award's "Enablers" track. The Saudi author and writer, Dr. Khalid Al Munif, was also honored under the "Inspirers" track in recognition of his outstanding contributions to youth empowerment and personal development.
Dr. Issa bin Hassan Al Ansari, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Arab Council for Youth (ACFY), congratulated the winners on their innovative projects, emphasizing that the award empowers youth by showcasing their exceptional efforts aimed at serving society and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. He highlighted the importance of investing in their initiatives and supporting them to continue innovating and developing their work.
For his part, Counselor Khamis Al Buzaidi, Director of the Civil Society Organizations Department at the League of Arab States, affirmed that the League's sponsorship of The Arab Council for Youth Award reflects its commitment to supporting organizations working to empower youth in the development field, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Vision. He emphasized the League's keenness to unify efforts and coordinate between Arab governments and civil society organizations to actively engage them in a joint framework that serves development issues at the Arab level.
Hassan Buhazaa, President of the Arab Voluntary Union, expressed his sincere gratitude to His Excellency Osama Bin Ahmed Khalifa Al-Asfoor, Minister of Social Development, and His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa for gracing the award ceremony, as well as to The Arab Council for Youth (ACFY) for its great support and outstanding efforts in empowering youth. He also commended the sponsorship of the League of Arab States and all partners, and congratulated the winners, wishing them all the best in developing their development projects.
The winners of The Arab Council for Youth Award expressed their deep pride and honor in receiving the award, and extended their sincere thanks and appreciation to the Arab Voluntary Union, The Arab Council for Youth (ACFY), and the organizers of the award for their support in promoting outstanding work. They emphasized that this award marks a milestone for a new phase of development for their projects and expanding their services.
