JEDDAH, 7 December 2004 — The fourth national dialogue opens today at Dhahran International Hotel here under the title “Youth issues and ambitions”. The three-day event will include workshops for youngsters, both male and female, and will have a number of academics and specialists as speakers. A website has been introduced to expand on the participation.
The Secretary-General of King Abdul Aziz National Dialogue Center Faisal ibn Muammar, said that several organizations had cooperated in the preparation of the dialogue, being held under the instructions of Crown Prince Abdullah.
The forum will discuss four main topics. “Youth and work” will focus on employment of youth and job opportunities. “Youth and nationalization” will discuss aspects of unity and national identity. “Youth and culture” will concentrate on the relationship between the youth and society, the challenges of globalization and the factors that could lead to fundamentalism. “Youth and education” will discuss the obstacles that face the student in different educational levels.
Muammar said such dialogues are crucial to building channels of communication between young people and decision-makers.
According to Muammar, the Internet site produced useful results in communicating with the youth. This interaction helped those responsible to pinpoint problems. In addition, it helped the young to meet with several intellectuals, writers, Shoura Council members, preachers and others that made the preparation of this event an easy task.
Nihal Mohamed, 18, said, “I am very happy about this event because it will help us to express and talk about our problems and concerns to people who are capable of solving them or giving us explanations to what we don’t understand.”
Ghadir Ali, 22, said, “It is a very encouraging that people in authority care to listen to us and help us in every possible way. This should encourage us to be more positive and work harder on overcoming the hurdles.”
Nora Mohamed said, “What I am very glad about this dialogue is that it includes both young men and women. We have different problems and different concerns. Therefore, I am glad that both young men and women will get together to express their views and concerns to the authorities who can help us.”
Haider Al-Umari, a sophomore in the Eastern Province, was not very optimistic. “This dialogue is going to be talk, talk and more talk. If they really want to make a difference it should be more open to the general youth,” he said.
“I’ve got to be hopeful,” said Nizar Abulaziz. “I mean what other choice do we have? And it’s not that we’re pessimistic but ... have any changes come about because of the national dialogues? I think they’re just doing this to buy time.”
