Dubai: Expo 2020 welcomed some of the UAE’s brightest young minds at the inaugural ‘YouthConnect’ on Saturday at the Sky Bubble, Meydan — Dubai. The event is the first in a long-standing and wide-ranging series of interactive forums, designed by youth for youth.
YouthConnect gathers UAE residents between the ages of 16 and 25 for an immersive experience, engaging them through inspirational speeches, hands-on workshops and engaging discussions led by some of the world’s most successful individuals from a variety of industries and disciplines. Participants were encouraged to tailor their individual journeys for the event, creating both an educational and entertaining day that catered to their interests.
Opening the event with a keynote speech, Reem Al Hashemi, UAE Minister of State and Director-General of the Bureau Dubai Expo 2020, said: “We are designing Expo 2020 Dubai and its proclaimed theme: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future with this next generation of leaders and innovators in mind. The fact that you have made the choice to be in this room means that you are already watching out and planning for that future. Ready to grasp the right opportunities and make those vital connections … For us that is a sign of your strength and potential. For you it is another step on the road to success.”
By introducing the elements of partnership and collaboration, network-building, science in action, creative design, skills development, career coaching and cultural exchange, YouthConnect started unfolding the Expo theme, which ultimately will help develop the nation’s burgeoning knowledge economy and position as a catalyst for economic, cultural and scientific innovation around the world.
The core objective of the event is to inspire the youth in attendance with the confidence to take ownership of their future; this is by demonstrating the possibilities of what can be achieved, by providing tangible skills that will empower them to take a leading role in the journey to 2020 and beyond.
