Budapest: Rawan bint Najeeb Tawfiqi, Minister of Youth Affairs, attended the "Hope Network - Brain Bar 2026" event, held in Budapest on the sidelines of the Brain Bar future festival.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the event was attended by the founder of Brain Bar and Hope Network member Gergely P. Nagy, along with several network members and participants. In her opening remarks, the Minister emphasized that the network serves as an international platform bringing together youth, policymakers, and experts from various countries and sectors to exchange expertise, build partnerships, and turn ideas into impactful initiatives.
The minister highlighted that the Kingdom of Bahrain prioritizes youth investment in its future vision by developing skills and fostering an environment that enables active participation. Tawfiqi noted that rapid technological developments have created new opportunities for communication and knowledge exchange, stressing the importance of these opportunities in enhancing young people's engagement in community issues, broadening cooperation, and transforming ideas into actionable initiatives and partnerships with tangible impacts.
During the event, Tawfiqi presented Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of State for Youth Affairs, with a case study prepared by the Network on the "Youth Spaces" initiative in the UAE, which highlights the initiative's experience in providing youth-led spaces that promote participation and community engagement.
The event also featured a recorded address by Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), who affirmed the significant attention youth in GCC countries receive from their leaders due to their key role in shaping the future. The Secretary-General praised the "Hope Network" for its objectives of promoting international cooperation and highlighted the GCC's efforts to develop a joint framework for youth work through programs and initiatives that strengthen Gulf identity.
Attendees participated in an interactive session and workshops with representatives of member countries and youth to exchange experiences and explore opportunities for joint youth projects. The event also featured a presentation by Hungary's National Talent Centre (NTK) on identifying and nurturing young talent and providing them with wider opportunities across various fields.