ROTA TO HOLD ‘EMPOWER 2010’

Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) announced that preparations are underway to hold Empower 2010: ROTA’s popular, annual Youth Conference promoting Leadership, Service based Learning and Global Citizenship. The conference, which is being held for the 2nd consecutive year, will take place at La Cigale Hotel, Doha from the 1st to the 3rd of April. Empower 2010 is open to young participants aged 14-24, secondary school teachers, lecturers and educators and university student affairs officers

Empower Youth Conferences are spearheaded by ROTAQ, Reach Out To Asia’s Qatar based programme. Empower Conferences form part of a series of 4 youth development initiatives on ROTAQ’s agenda, specially designed to support Reach Out To Asia’s strategic vision of promoting youth development and informal education within Qatar.

Speaking on the strategic goals of ‘Empower 2010’ Reem Al Daghma Community Development Manager said, “We are delighted that Empower 2010 is building on the success of Empower 2009. Observers of Empower 2009 affirmed the success of last year’s conference as being one of the most key youth development initiatives in Qatar. So, through Empower 2010, we are once again seeking to energize, mobilize and inspire leadership and civic responsibility among Qatar’s youth. Having witnessed the impact of these youth conferences, we can unequivocally say that they create a platform for equipping and enabling the young people of Qatar to serve and to lead their community. Empower 2010 will fine tune skills for leadership, and expand capacity for service. The conference will also build confidence and capability in youth to address local and global issues within a practical and dynamic learning context. We believe these are the outcomes that eventually transform communities, nations and even the world.”

Commenting further on the objectives of ‘Empower 2010’ Vivien Lool, learning and Capacity Building Coordinator said, “The conference will promote better understanding of youth leadership, service learning and create greater awareness of global issues among participants. Using innovative and interactive teaching approaches Empower 2010 will pave the way for youth to develop not just their skills and knowledge but also the right mindset and attitudes to take on leadership roles. The conference will further create an optimum environment for youth to discover their voice and realize their potential to make a positive contribution in their communities and facilitate a forum for the exchange of ideas, projects and reflections that address local needs and global issues”.

Empower 2010 has a careful blend of lectures and workshops, built on three distinct themes. Under the theme of personal leadership participants will be led in sessions and activities that promote the values of personal excellence, integrity, accountability and respect for one’s cultural values. The theme of service learning will focus on civic responsibility and offer a valuable learning experience linked to academic work, creating opportunities for youth to act on behalf of their community, country, and the world as a whole, through service to others. Finally, the theme of global citizenship will develop the voice of youth through advocacy on social justice issues.

Sharing a quick glance at what can be expected over three exciting days of activity and engagement Bouthyna Al Janahi, Students representative who is closely associated with ROTAQ said, “ Over the days to follow participants can look forward to a youth led debate, many engaging workshops, excellent key note speeches by international and local speakers, exhibitions, question and answer sessions, artistic and cultural performances, offsite learning projects and hands on opportunities to apply the skills learnt at the conference.”

In order to encourage maximum participation ROTA has offered the opportunity for online registration at www.reachouttoasia.org. While registration for Empower 2010 is free, interested participants are encouraged to apply early since registration is set to close as the conference reaches its capacity.BACK