The Middle East Youth Expo (MEYE 2019), the largest youth engagement initiative in the region and the first event of its kind in the Middle East will be held in Abu Dhabi from 19th to 21st November 2019 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The Expo will be attended by the 2014 Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi who will give a keynote speech as part of international celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) by the United Nations General Assembly.
The three-day Expo will bring together thousands of young delegates, between the age of 14-21 years old, in the Middle East to collaborate and explore sustainable solutions for both people and the planet, aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UAE Vision 2021. Ministry support for the Middle East Youth Expo comes from the UAE Ministry of Education, UAE Ministry of Climate Change & Environment, UAE Ministry of Economy, UAE Ministry of Community Development, alongside local and international organisations including ADNOC, UN-Water, Sky Ocean Rescue, and Dubai Cares, to name a few.
MEYE 2019 is free for all schools, colleges and universities in the UAE to attend. The festival-style event aims to empower the youth delegates with tools, inspiration and direction to achieve their life goals as future ‘responsible global citizens of the world’. The event will include over 70 inspirational international speakers, over 35 workshops and panel discussions and over 10 immersive experiences for young people to participate in. The centrepiece of the Expo will be Youth Circles which will host discussions covering each of the key pillars of MEYE 2019: business & entrepreneurship; education & training; health & wellbeing; science, technology, engineering & maths (STEM); art, fashion & culture; digital innovation, technology & media; government & society; tolerance, resilience & happiness; sport, leisure & entertainment; and environment & community.
Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi and Honorary Ambassador for MEYE 2019 said, “The power of youth is the commonwealth for the entire world. The faces of young people are the faces of our present and our future. No segment in the society can match with the power, idealism, enthusiasm, dynamism and courage of the young people. The Middle East Youth Expo is a very timely and excellent initiative to bring together the youth to inspire them collectively to address the toughest challenges we face today – poverty, inequality, health, wellbeing, climate change; and to achieve peace and prosperity for people and the planet. I would call upon all the youth of this world through the platform of the Middle East Youth Expo to join the 100 million for 100 million campaign and do their bit for making this world a much better place for the children and youth. I eagerly look forward to being in Abu Dhabi as we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and to take the youth along in my work towards realizing my goal of a child-friendly world, a world where every child is free, safe and educated.”
MEYE will also celebrate and acknowledge young leaders in the Middle East who have shown to be resilient change-makers who are dedicated to solving global issues and have inspired their peers and communities with the MEYE 2019 Young Leader of the Year Awards, in collaboration with One Young World. The awards are open to two categories 14-17-year-olds and 18-21-year-olds in the UAE and the Middle East whose actions or achievements have changed, innovated or strengthened the commitment to their communities for positive change for people or the planet, for each of the MEYE 2019 pillars. Awards are now open for submission at www.themiddleeastyouthexpo.com
The festival-style event will have 10 experience zones aligned to the MEYE 2019 pillars for student engagement including the Youth Circle Programme to participate in debates for sustainable and innovative solutions for the future; opportunities to pitch sustainable business ideas to the Khalifa Fund; and participate in art, fashion and music exhibitions. To view the full programme of international speakers, opportunities for student engagement and to register for free schools, colleagues and university places for students visit www.themiddleeastyouthexpo.com
 and the UAE Vision 2021. Ministry support for the Middle East Youth Expo comes from the UAE Ministry of Education, UAE Ministry of Climate Change & Environment, UAE Ministry of Economy, UAE Ministry of Community Development, alongside local and international organisations including ADNOC, UN-Water, Sky Ocean Rescue, and Dubai Cares, to name a few.){kind=link}