Cape Town:Rawan bint Najeeb Tawfiqi, the Minister of Youth Affairs, attended the opening ceremony of the One Young World Summit 2026 at Green Point Athletics Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. The event saw the participation of prominent international figures and youth leaders from across the globe.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the Minister emphasized Bahrain's commitment to investing in youth, aligning with the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. She also highlighted the contributions of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa in establishing a national model focused on empowering young people.
The ceremony included keynote speeches by Queen Rania Al Abdullah, Nobel Peace Prize laureates Professor Muhammad Yunus and journalist Maria Ressa, and Graca Machel. Artistic and cultural performances were delivered by the South African Youth Choir, the University of Cape Town Opera Society, and artist Amy Jones. A flag-raising ceremony for participating countries was also held, symbolizing cultural diversity and unity.
Minister Tawfiqi remarked on the importance of the summit, stating that it goes beyond idea exchange to build lasting partnerships with tangible outcomes. She expressed pride in Bahrain's youth empowerment efforts and the potential for sharing experiences with the world.
The summit, lasting from November 3-6, addresses global issues such as the future of employment amidst artificial intelligence advancements, food security, peace and security, and youth empowerment in Africa. The programme features panel discussions and workshops involving young participants, experts, and decision-makers.