Ammon News -
AMMONNEWS – In an effort to tap into the potential of the youth generation, especially given recent events in the Arab world, the World Economic Forum today launched the Global Shapers Middle East Community. The Global Shapers Community is a worldwide network of Hubs led by 20- to 30-year-olds who are exceptional in their potential, achievements and drive to make a positive contribution to their communities.

The newest community to join the group was announced today at the World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Economic Growth and Job Creation in the Arab World, at the Dead Sea, Jordan.

“We are becoming increasingly aware that solutions to our global challenges must purposefully engage youth at all levels – locally, nationally, regionally and globally. This generation has the passion, dynamism and entrepreneurial spirit to shape the future,” said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum.

The Middle East region is now home to 14 Global Shaper Hubs, of which six are represented at the Meeting: Amman, Cairo, Doha, Dubai, Riyadh and Tunis. Shapers from these cities are taking part in conversations on youth unemployment, social media in the Arab world and new models of leadership. Yasmin Galal, a Global Shaper from the Forum’s Cairo Hub, is the first Shaper to serve as a Forum meeting co-chair, alongside CEOs and executives from five of the world’s leading companies.

“This Meeting is about job creation, and the site I developed [Glowork] is the first of its kind, dedicated to helping women find careers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” says Khalid Alkhudair, a Global Shaper from Riyadh. “I believe I will bring to the Meeting experiences and stories about female empowerment, the challenges we have faced and the successes we have claimed.”

The active participation of the Global Shapers in the Meeting is part of the World Economic Forum’s goal to provide this unique group with access to the Forum’s Members and constituents, including top leaders from politics, business, civil society, media, science, arts and culture, faith and academia, with the objective of providing maximum possibilities for interaction and cross-mentoring.

The young Shapers see networking with their peers and mentors as the primary benefit of participating in this Special Meeting. “I want to learn from their successes and gain perspective on what fellow Shapers are doing individually and in their Hubs. I hope to get feedback on our local operations as well as find ways to partner with Hubs in different countries and expand our impact,” says Shaper Mohamed Fawzy El Haw, Global Shaper, Cairo.