WYF session “Volunteerism: Towards a more responsible society” kicks off

CAIRO - 5 Nonmember 2018: A session entitled “Volunteerism: Towards a more responsible society” kicked off on Monday within the context of proceedings on the third day of the World Youth Forum, currently in session.

During the session, Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Waly asserted that President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi agreed with NGO representatives that the NGO law is restrictive to their work, adding, “We are working on changing that.”

Moreover, the representative of the UN population fund, Aleksandra Bodiroza, stated that “Volunteerism is definitely cost effective, but it is not - by all means - cost free.” The third day of the second edition of the World Youth Forum kicked off on Monday under the auspices of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.

The second annual edition of the WYF will tackle two main axes: peace and development. The forum will bring together 5,000 youths represented by 60 delegations from across the world to explore key issues facing their generation, and determine their role in implementing the global development goals and in facing terrorism.

On November 1 and 2, the forum witnessed pre-workshops related to the "Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want" and "Empowering Persons with Disabilities: Towards a More Integrated World."

The opening of the World Youth Theater took place on Friday, November 2. The actual discussion sessions are planned to start on November 4, where participants will discuss a number of issues, including inter-cultural dialogue, the role of world leaders in building and sustaining peace, the role of soft power in countering ideological extremism and terrorism, and water security in the wake of climate change.

On November 5, the sessions will tackle the role of entrepreneurs and start-ups in global economic growth, rebuilding societies and states after conflicts, narrowing the gender gap in the labor market and humanitarian assistance.

The forum's closing session and the announcement of the World Youth Forum 2018 recommendations will take place on November 6.