Doha, October 22 (QNA) - The Ministry of Sports and Youth (MSY) and the National Planning Council (NPC) on Thursday launched the Qatar Youth Council for Future-Making, an initiative aimed at strengthening Qatari youth participation in national policymaking and future foresight, while reinforcing their role as active partners in the country's development.

The Council will provide a national platform for dialogue and discussion of issues and challenges affecting young people, while contributing to the development of youth policies, programmes and initiatives.

The launch and the inaugural meeting of the Council's, were attended by HE Secretary-General of the NPC, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa and HE Undersecretary of the MSY, Engineer Yasser bin Abdullah Al Jamal alongside council members and representatives of the two institutions.

The inaugural meeting reviewed the council's objectives and responsibilities and discussed national youth priorities for the coming period. Participants also examined the Council's working mechanisms and future role in broadening youth participation and building a national network of young leaders capable of anticipating future developments and contributing to sustainable development and prosperity for generations to come.

HE Minister of Sports and Youth Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani, said that launching the National Youth Council for Future-Making reflected Qatar's firmly established national vision of placing young people at the heart of the country's development journey, as well as the state's confidence in their capabilities and their pivotal role as active partners in shaping both the present and the future.

Investing in young people, he said, is an investment in the nation's future and prosperity. He added that the ministry was committed to providing effective national platforms through which young people could express their views, present their visions and initiatives, and participate in discussions on issues of national priority.

HE the Minister of Sports and Youth said the Council would serve as a space for constructive dialogue and the exchange of ideas, while bridging the aspirations of young people and policymakers. This, he added, would strengthen youth contributions to sustainable development and support the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.

He also described the council as a model of partnership and integration between the Ministry of Sports and Youth and the National Planning Council, reflecting both institutions' commitment to empowering young people and involving them in future foresight and the development of innovative solutions to national challenges.

The ministry, he said, would continue developing initiatives and programmes that foster participation, responsibility and innovation, helping prepare a generation of young leaders capable of contributing effectively to the country's advancement and the sustainability of its development.

For his part, HE Secretary-General of the National Planning Council, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa said the initiative sought to empower young people in Qatar to become active partners in development rather than limiting their role to implementing plans formulated for them.

The Qatari Youth Council for Future-Making represents the first step in this direction, opening the way for young people to contribute to shaping policies and plans in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, His Excellency added.

The council aims to turn young people's ideas into practical solutions, noting that Qatar's youth possessed the awareness, energy and creativity needed to participate in decision-making. The council would work to ensure that its recommendations were translated into youth policies and programmes and implemented on the ground, he said.

For his part, HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Engineer Yasser bin Abdullah Al Jamal said the council represented a practical expression of the leadership's vision of youth empowerment, moving young people beyond participation towards meaningful influence in policymaking and future-making efforts, through harnessing their energy and ideas to develop innovative responses to national challenges.

The Council, he added, represents an key tributary to realizing the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030, stressing that the country's progress depends on a generation that is aware of its responsibilities, and is equipped to lead change and turn national aspirations into tangible achievements.

In turn, Assistant Secretary-General for the Future Foresight and National Visions Center at NPC, Bassem Issa Al Mannai said future foresight involved understanding emerging trends and transformations before they occurred, adding that young people were particularly close to these changes and highly engaged with them.

Through programmes such as the Qatar National Vision Fellowship and collaborative working sessions, the council would give young people direct opportunities to contribute to foresight activities and policymaking, he said adding that the initiative would also help develop a generation of young leaders equipped to think ahead and devise innovative solutions to future challenges. 

The Qatari Youth Council for Future-Making aims to strengthen dialogue and communication with young people, examine issues and challenges affecting them, and convey their views and aspirations to relevant authorities. It will also propose policies and initiatives and submit recommendations to help improve national programmes, broaden youth participation in discussions on priority issues and strengthen their contribution to decision-making.

Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Chairman of the Qatari Youth Council for Future-Making, Nawaf Mohammed Al Mudhahka said the Council would serve as a voice for young people across Qatar and work towards fulfilling its objectives and aspirations by bringing forward issues affecting society through a range of programmes. These efforts, he said, would also address the country's development priorities beyond Qatar National Vision 2030.

Al Mudhahka added that committees would be formed at a later stage to focus on key issues raised by young people. He said the Council's members possessed strong professional capabilities and expertise and had demonstrated their ability to carry out assigned responsibilities effectively, including through programmes and projects that serve society and the State of Qatar.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Sports and Youth and member of the Council, Rashid Ali Al Nuaimi told QNA that the Council's inaugural meeting had addressed several items on the agenda, primarily planning for the period beyond Qatar National Vision 2030 and how to advance those efforts.

Discussions also focused on strengthening national identity among young people, preserving Qatar's customs and traditions, and enhancing their presence at local and international events, he said.

The Council is designed as a joint national platform to empower young people to participate in Qatar's development, strengthen their leadership and intellectual capabilities, and expand their role in innovation and positive change. Its broader objective is to prepare an informed, engaged and influential generation capable of contributing to a sustainable future and the development of society.

It targets Qatari nationals aged 18 to 34 from a range of academic disciplines and backgrounds, particularly those interested in community development and decision-making.

Through a series of initiatives and programmes, the Council will provide opportunities for participation and influence, with a focus on developing leadership skills, promoting civic engagement and supporting youth-led innovation and solutions addressing future national challenges and opportunities.

Its membership brings together young people and representatives of youth-related institutions and diverse groups, reflecting a broad range of experiences and perspectives. This inclusive approach is intended to strengthen coordination among entities working on youth affairs and expand opportunities for young people to discuss issues shaping their future.

The launch of the Qatari Youth Council for Future-Making underscores Qatar's commitment to empowering young people and enhancing their contribution across all areas of development. By establishing effective channels for dialogue and engagement, the Council will enable young people to express their views and aspirations and contribute ideas, solutions and proposals aligned with national development priorities. The initiative ultimately seeks to reinforce the role of Qatar's youth as active partners in shaping the country's future and advancing its development ambitions. (QNA)