Under the title “Beyond Borders” and with the presence of a group of inspiring speakers from around the world, Prof. Rana Dajani participated in Al Sharq Youth Conference, held over two days in October in Gaziantep, Turkey.
The focus of the conference is on discussing the unprecedented global risks we face, such as widespread youth disillusionment, disengagement from public affairs, and an inclination towards populist narratives, due to the lack of trust in existing economic, political, and social structures on a global scale.
Dajani’s participation consisted of two sessions over the two days. The first session, titled “The Human: Divinely-Designed Changemakers,” discussed how youth can be active designers for change, dedicated to humanitarian roles and a clear vision to guide younger generations towards building sustainable communities and development.
The other session, titled “Social Innovation for Global Inclusion,” Dajani provided examples and inspiring experiences about how social innovation can support inclusion and create sustainable solutions for complex problems. Additionally, Dajani participated in parallel sessions and “Expert Clinics,” which consisted of workshops.
The conference addressed themes for this year, including Geopolitics & Justice, Activism and Community Mobilization, AI & the Digital Age, Media, Narratives, and Communication, Institutional Establishment and Development, Economic Disruption, and Art for Awakening.
Al Sharq Youth is considered a network of committed and active youth, leading change towards a more inclusive and just world. They are a community of 6,000 members across seven regions, working together to address these global challenges while integrating local grassroots priorities through programs, special projects, and activities aligned with grounded values and principles.