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Diriyah, Jewel of the Kingdom: Diriyah affirms commitment to intergenerational solidarity ahead of International Youth Day
On the occasion of International Youth Day, the Diriyah Gate Development Authority affirmed its commitment to this year’s theme of intergenerational solidarity, and highlighted its achievements in bringing together people of ‘ every age as the city moves towards the future.
International Youth Day, chosen by the UN, aims to draw attention to contemporary issues affecting today’s youth.
The aim of this year’s International Youth Day is to amplify the message that all generations need to take action to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Intergenerational solidarity is essential for sustainable development, and Saudi Arabia’s flagship development projects address age-related barriers in order to “build back better” in a way that leverages strengths, the -knowledge and experience of all ages.
Ahlam Al-Thunayan, director of community involvement at DGDA, said: “What we want to create within Diriyah is an environment where everyone can succeed, regardless of their background or age. Diriyah was once a bastion of knowledge, understanding and cultural and commercial exchange. By capitalizing on the intergenerational skills here at DGDA and building a knowledge exchange program, we can empower the youth in our community and see this become a reality once again.
“Our young people have a lot to give to our community, and we have a lot to give them. Young people contribute a huge amount to our project, and we want to see them succeed, whether through the provision of multiple career development opportunities or youth-focused community engagement initiatives. They are the pride of our nation, and we see them as the architects of the Kingdom’s future,” she added.
One of the ways DGDA is achieving this is through the implementation of its Community Engagement Strategy and its Human Capital Development Strategy, which aim to discover, develop, transform and encourage future leaders by mentoring the vast talent within the organization and the wider community.
The strategy paved the way for bright young people from the local community to join the authority through the graduate training program, enter global events such as Formula E, become cultural ambassadors at the Biennale of Contemporary Art of Diriyah or take Diriyah’s message to an international audience as tour guides at the Saudi Arabia Expo 2020 Pavilion in Dubai.
The authority also oversaw the implementation of empowerment programs for the young residents of Diriyah, including Program Your Passion, to teach game development and animation to middle and high school students .
Sixty-seven percent of the population of Saudi Arabia is under the age of 35, according to a 2020 study released by the General Authority for Statistics, with almost half of the Kingdom’s workforce (47 in the hundred) falls into this young demographic.
The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy aims to unleash this young potential through new initiatives, investments and opportunities.