Marking the International Youth Day, the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) launched #AlNahdaYouth network on August 12, 2020, highlighting the essential role played by the youth in driving hope, reform and development. The network comprises young Arab women and men from the Arab region and beyond. It is led by youth who determine its goals and objectives, and aims to increase the involvement of active and passionate young people in their societies, and help them make their voices heard and realise their vision of a renaissance that carries with it hopes of youth living in a more inclusive, stable and prosperous society that invests in their future.
The network strives to promote the culture of Arab renaissance and strengthen youth and feminist voices in the Arab region and the diaspora to advance the concept of democracy and development rooted in social justice and community work, through various activities such as volunteering, dialogue, promoting civic participation, social journalism, blogging, and creative projects such as filmmaking, visual stories, songs, all the while highlighting these activities and efforts.
“The official launch of the network comes in light of and despite the circumstances storming our region, to emphasize the importance of hope the youth represent and which was evident in the roles and initiatives that our youth launched in response to COVID-19 in Jordan, the region and beyond. In Lebanon we are inspired everyday by their determination leading the reconstruction efforts. Now more than ever, our role is to support their efforts and make their voices heard and enable them to participate in building the future and reform of our Arab region. They should be enabled to create the region’s new tomorrow, belong to it and reap the fruits of their work” according to ARDD’s CEO, Samar Muhareb.
#AlNahdaYouth Network aims to offer a safe space, platforms, and opportunities for Arab youths to motivate, support each other, voice their expectations, concerns and issues, provide solutions and fulfil their duties towards their societies. It also seeks to enable their participation in humanitarian and relief work, community organization and voluntary initiatives to create the desired change and curb the brain drain, through providing them with programs that hone their skills and capabilities, to help them keep abreast of times, that resonate with the youth and help them achieve their ambitions, and to invest in and benefit from the minds of Arab youth, celebrate their various contributions to the society, be it in literature, art or research, and encourage dialogue and free and responsible creativity.
#AlNahdaYouth network’s comprehensiveness and flexibility enable young women and men to invest their energies, talents and capabilities to solve their issues and challenges, to present solutions, and to exert their efforts through teams and/or work groups, as required by the phase, objective and/or country. Examples of such teamwork are embodied in Youth Group for Palestine, Philosophy Club and Human Rights Workgroup, among others.
ARDD is committed to providing #AlNahdaYouth with training opportunities, practical experience through its various programs and opportunities also available at partner institutions and agencies, as well as to providing logistical and media support to promote youths’ voices and help them work through its various platforms.
All Arab youth seeking positive change are invited to join the network by submitting the following application:
