In 1999, the International Labor Organization’s World Employment Report warned of the far-reaching destructive implications youth unemployment could have on the labor market and on the well being of society at large. According to the report, chronic youth unemployment is a waste of a powerful resource with valuable contribution to economic activity and it is also a definite pre-requisite to economic exclusion, social alienation and eventual delinquency. Without global intervention to resolving this issue, the rich/poor divide and the increase in crime and drug abuse will continue to undermine the social cohesion of all societies which will lead to eventual civil unrest and turmoil.

In September of 2002, global intervention did come through. For the first time in history, over 120 got together in Alexandria, Egypt to find solutions to enable the youth of the world to a life of decent living and economic self-reliance. The “Youth Employment Summit” (YES), launched a decade-long campaign (2002-2012) dedicated to the advocacy of global youth employment and empowerment.

With the intention of passing over the objectives of this initiative from the global to the local level, 83 country networks (Youth Employment Networks -YEN) were created to advocate this message to local authorities and to create intervention programs relevant to the needs of each respective country. To date, the lives of 1 million youth have been affected by YES programs carried on by these regional Networks (YEN) which work closely with government, business, academics, NGOs, UN agencies etc. to suggest policies and to develop programs to promote youth employment practices. The key niche of these Networks is that they rely heavily on the active participation of the youth at all stages of the planning and implementation process.

As a model for intervention, the YES campaign has actively validated the concept that young people, if given access to the right resources, can effectively craft their own advancement opportunities. As a success story, its the far-reaching effect has resulted in the start-up of a YES event somewhere in the world nearly every other day, where new alliances are constantly being fostered to add to the already existing 6000 members worldwide.

Reading about this visionary global initiative picks my curiosity as to why we have not partnered with this enabling process until now? The status quo of our youth is critical and needs immediate intervention that aims at designing and implementing a national policy for youth integration into all aspects of our social, political, economic and civic life.

There is a definite added-value behind the integration of youth into the decision-making process by way of internship and job-shadowing. Exposure to real-life situations and on-the-job simulation alongside real leaders and technocrats allows them to witness key figures in professional set-ups. But more importantly, this side by side integration will forge a much needed interactive relationship between two segments of our society; the young and inexperienced, and the old and seasoned.

I have a vision: A vision that sets the stage for the creation of generation two of Saudi Arabia’s Dynamic Leaders of Tomorrow (SADLOT). It is a vision that calls for a top down, and a bottom up approach to youth integration. From the top down, I see the creation of a “Shoura Youth Assembly” that functions as a “think tank” under our Shoura Council’s mandate. The members of this “think tank” are youth whose age range is form 15 to 35; and who come from diverse economic, social, and intellectual backgrounds that somehow represent our nations demographic makeup.

The basic function of this youth “think-tank” is to identify current and emerging issues facing them and their communities in addition to coming up with practical solutions for implementation. The operating method of the group can be aligned to the basic model of the YES campaign but it will be customized to suit local needs. The bottom line is to provide a formal platform for youth to voice their concerns and aspirations. Any, and all solutions suggested, need to come from this group, and any proposals for action must be carried out by their full participation.

Parallel to this model, I envision a similar practice taking place in all Chambers of Commerce across the country. If each chamber of commerce was mandated by policy to establish a “Youth Economic Council” as the formal economic voice of our nation’s SADLOT, then I am sure that the fresh young blood will not be lacking in providing us with new ideas for resolving old issues of unemployment, economic diversification, and entrepreneurial support.

Taking it a step further, the bottom up approach will focus on empowering youth at the grass root (local and communal) level by establishing a “Youth Community Team” with the same mandate of the former two youth think-tanks. This stage is not only necessary but is critical to guaranteeing the equitable integration of youth at all levels of the social strata. The platform for this local integration will be the newly formed municipal councils that are spread nationwide.

Building the capacity of Saudi Arabia’s Dynamic Leaders of Tomorrow necessitates an environment where partnership between generations is the only way forward. Our youth need to experience ownership and feel authentic civic identity. They need to be treated as equal partners in the development process. They also need to be given the space for exploring their capabilities and the opportunities to prove their worth. What is lacking is the platform from which they are able to communicate their vision to us.

At all stages of the above, we need to remind ourselves that these young men and women will be our future saviors and leaders and if we fail in preparing them for that future, we will be the ones to suffer the dire consequences of our own ineptitude.