It was a great pleasure for me to be the chairperson of the UK-Saudi Youth Forum held recently in London at the Two Kingdoms Shared Challenges Conference. It was a joy to listen to the voices of the young men and women and share their hopes, dreams and frustrations. They had many bright ideas, and they were well aware of the challenges they should confront if they are to build a better future for their country.
During their orientation before heading to London, the young participants had the opportunity to exchange views with princes, media personalities, Shoura Council members, academics and businessmen and receive firsthand information about matters that affect their lives. They explored issues they were not very clear about and showed great enthusiasm in expressing their needs and aspirations. They were given a chance to speak freely and openly, and it was the first time that they had the privilege to be heard. The experience was so rewarding that Ahmed, one of the participants, later innocently asked, “Why did I have to travel to the UK to be heard?”
His question moved us all. Everyone appreciated his frankness, and the Shoura Council members invited him to visit and promised him there will be many future opportunities for young people to be represented and their voices to be heard. They were also invited to participate in the National Dialogue Center.
I was also moved when Sultan, another participant, criticized our local press for not including their names in the newspapers or highlighting their views. He wondered: “When will we ever be acknowledged?” He was right; the press should be giving them the recognition they deserve.
I was impressed by some of the answers they gave to one of the reporters at the airport. When asked about how they would describe the challenges of the Saudi youth to the British group, Sara said they need to know that basically our challenges are not any different from the challenges of youth in the rest of the world.
As for her own hopes, she said: “To obtain a university degree that qualifies me in the job market. To develop skills and capabilities that can help me in my career. To have a job I like and enjoy and pursue a career where I can grow and succeed.” She certainly got it right.
Rawaa spoke with pride when she talked about her religion and her role as a woman in Islam. The passion and conviction of her voice left no room for doubt about Islam’s moderation, its tolerance and the true position of Islam toward the legal rights of women.
Lama, with her angelic face and elegant hijab, was the image of the young Muslim woman who commanded respect and deserved to be heard. In a conversation with one of the young Saudi colleagues, she asserted that her hijab was a statement of piety and identity, which does not give anyone the right to question her faith or character.
Hammam impressed me most when he congratulated Lama on her confidence during her presentation of the group’s recommendations on stage. He thanked her for making the whole team proud. He was well spoken and confident — especially when he briefed Prince Mohammad bin Nawaf, the Saudi ambassador to the UK, about the young people’s vision for a brighter future.
Dima was the coordinator of the group. She played a great role in communicating with the young participants from Day One and made sure that everyone was well informed about his or her assignment, which helped make the event a great success. It was a joy to see the young men in the group acknowledge her role and hear them thank her for being so efficient and polite.
Layla was articulate in stressing the important role that young Saudi women could play in serving their communities. During the trip she engaged in political discussions and expressed strong views on many issues.
The admiration shown for the young women by the male participants was like a breath of fresh air to me. Their encounter broke all the stereotypes of young men and women of our country. The strict segregation laws and the negative attitude shown toward women by many young men in our country have always disturbed me.
It was evident that the young women in the group represented those Saudis who are not going to allow gender discrimination to intimidate them or allow extremists to dominate them. They were determined to work hard to prove their capabilities and earn their respect as contributing members of society.
It was a great accomplishment to see them work together and participate in the forum. They expressed their opinions and explained their beliefs with sophistication, and they demystified Saudi and Muslim culture to the young Britons who were anxious to listen and learn. All the young participants shared a positive vision and projected the true image of their countries’ cultures and histories. Together they produced valid recommendations to the Two Kingdoms Conference to solve the problems facing the youth in both Kingdoms and, in particular, to counter extremists who seek to drive them apart.
Indeed, I see a new breed of young men and women who are becoming the engines for change. They speak their minds and demand to be heard. They realize their responsibilities and recognize their challenges. Their drive is strong, and their goals are ambitious.
The exchange with the British students was a great success. It was an opportunity to clear misconceptions on both sides and pave the way for young minds to reach out to other communities to create a better understanding and overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of progress and development.
I see a new breed of moderates who will shun extremism and will combat terrorism. With dialogue and tolerance, the young men and women can work together to remove the cultural barriers that hold them back. With God’s will, there is no doubt that they will lead the way to a more prosperous future for Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.
— Samar Fatany is a Saudi radio journalist. She can be reached at [email protected].
