Making the difference: State Alumni IVLPs at the 4th UNAOC Forum in Doha

Emmanuel Sanyi Sanyi from Cameroon (IVLP 2007 on Youth Leadership and PFYAL 2010) and Sakhri Khalil from Algeria (IVLP 2010) [Photo from Sanyi]

Group photograph of all the participants at the 4th Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) that held in Doha-Qatar. [Photo from Sanyi]

Emmanuel Sanyi Sanyi from Cameroon (IVLP 2007 on Youth Leadership and PFYAL 2010) and Sakhri Khalil from Algeria (IVLP 2010 on Young Leaders Political and Civic Engagement) took part in the 4th Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC) that held in Doha-Qatar from 10-13th.

The forum brought together over 2,000 participants, including; political and corporate leaders, civil society activists, youth groups, faith communities, researchers and journalists, and agreed on joint actions to improve relations across cultures, combat prejudice and build lasting peace for development. It discussed three major themes; How Does Cultural Diversity Matter to Development? The missing link; Promoting Trust and Tolerance to Advance Development Goals and New Strategies for Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding & Cooperation.

Preceding the main forum was a pre-forum youth meeting. The youth forum discussed the main themes of the forum and made recommendations which feed into the broader recommendations of the forum. In keeping with the spirit of leadership Emmanuel and Khalil took turns to significantly contribute to the youth event. With young people from over 100 countries in attendance, Emmanuel Sanyi was designated by his peers to serve with three other young people on the team which drafted the youth Forum's final recommendations and statement. Sakhri Khalil was selected to represent the MENA region in a Q/A session at the closing of the youth forum with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, UNAOC High Representative Jorge Sampaio, and UNAOC Ambassador HH Moza Bint Nasser of Qatar. Khalil questioned the guests of honour on avenues for ensuring that youth have a presence in political processes the define Arab nations post the Arab Springs. Beside this actions, the two leaders exchanged views and engaged in powerful conversations with a wide range of other young people and world leaders present at the Doha Forum.