The International Cultural Festival (ICF) was Inaugurated on March 6, 2018 with the participation of delegates from 25 countries. Delegates represented communities in Egypt, heads of diplomatic consular and cultural missions, representatives of international organizations accredited in Egypt, media representatives , and other dignitaries . Young people of special needs displayed some folkloric shows along with some school children.
Following are the main points of the theme:
Empowering Youth Accelerates the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's)
The way we engage young people today will determine the prospects for sustainable development and peace. Young people were actively involved in the development of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They were given specific recognition in the Preamble of the 2030 Agenda. Other references, explicit and implicit, are found throughout its 17 SDG's and this means they are included in all aspects of the Agenda. Specific mention is given to youth in four areas: youth employment, adolescent girls, education and sports for peace and development.
Youth are recognized as agents of change, entrusted with fulfilling their own potential and ensuring a world fit for future generations. No wonder therefore, they are recognized in all development frameworks at national, regional and global levels.
Linkages and complementarities on youth issues between the World Programme of Action for Youth of 1996 & the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are clearly discerned.
Many of the 15 priority areas listed in the world programme of Actions of 1996: education / employment / hunger & poverty / health / the environment / drug abuse / juvenile delinquency / leisure-time / girls & young women / full and effective participation of youth activities in the life of society and in decision-making, ICT / HIV-AIDS / Armed Conflict / Intergenerational issues, are addressed in the SDG's with the exception of intergenerational issues.
Enhancing the implementation and monitoring of the world Programme of Action for Youth will accelerate progress toward the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.
Youth policies and their implementation are affected by the broader environment, including the political climate, humanitarian crises, uneven local development, budget cuts and competing priorities. The situation is compounded by further challenges:
§ The high level of youth unemployment and underemployment.
§ alcohol and substance abuse
§ gender equality
§ migration
§ intergenerational transmission of poverty
§ constraints of financial resources
Young people could contribute as political actors, innovators, entrepreneurs and peace builders. Therefore, they are required to actively get involved in all aspects of development irrespective of challenges and barriers they might face. The October 6 University Annual International Festival is one of our advocacy tools to utilize government initiatives to unleash their full potential as agents of change at all levels along the lines of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
O6U body of students, faculty and staff highly commend the great support given by UN and the interagency network of many entities for youth policies and the youth sector in general including supporting different countries in formulating youth employment and development frameworks, action plans and policies, in addition to the appointment in September 2016 of a special Envoy on Youth Employment and the appointment in June 2017 of a new Envoy of the Secretary-General on Youth.
It is worth mentioning here that one of the landmark Security Council Resolutions is the one adopted in 2015 (SC Res. 2250 (2015)) on Youth, Peace and Security which is the first Council Resolution wholly dedicated to the role of youth in the maintenance and promotion of international peace and security.
Welcoming Speech of Amb.DR.Kheireldin Abdellatif
Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of October 6 University (O6U)
Excellencies Heads of Missions
Representatives of International Organizations
Prof Ahmed Attia Seida , president of O6U
Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees ,
Vice Presidents of O6U
Deans
Members of the Teaching Faculty
Dean Students
Respected Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is indeed a great honor and pleasure to have you in our midst gracing such an important event Cultural Festival to celebrate peace , tolerance, understanding , dialogue and a great sense of togetherness in one world.
The chairman of the Board is sending the warmest greetings and welcome along with his sincere regret for not showing due to unforeseen commitment.
The present Festival carries the rubric '' Empowering Youth Accelerates the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals – SD6s''
The Tenth Festival was held under the title "Solving and Mitigating Refugees Problem Contributes in Enhancing the Prospects of International Peace and Security "
The Ninth Festival carried the title "Culture of Peace".
O6U attaches great importance to raising awareness on global issues relating to international peace and security through the different events and activities.
The O6U International Cultural Festival (ICF) faster a culture of peace along the lines of UN initiatives, and programmers of action.
The Festival provides the opportunity to students , members of foreign communities , and cultural institutions to display features and traits of diverse cultures and civilizations thus fostering mutual understanding and respect and enhancing the prospects of peace and security.
The need for dialogue among civilizations is an old as civilization itself and today the need is more acute than ever.
Those who are exposed to the cultures of others and learn about them through communication across cultural divides are more likely to see diversity as strength and celebrate it as a gift.
People can and should take pride in their particular faith or heritage. But we can cherish what we are without hating or undermining what others are.
Young people were actively involved in the development of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development. They were given specific recognition in the preamble of the Agenda.
Special mention is given to youth in four areas :
Youth employment
Adolescent girls
Education and sports for peace
Development
Young people could contribute as political actors, innovators, entrepreneurs and peace builders . Our Festival is one of our advocacy tools to utilize government initiatives to unleash their full potential as agents of change at all levels along the lines of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
I am confident that the Festival will be an added value to our common endeavors aiming at creating a safe and better world for us and for future generations.
Once more my renewed warmest welcome and profound gratitude for gracing the occasion wishing you a pleasant cultural experience and continued success.
I shall be amiss if I do not recognize the unknown soldiers behind this work Headed by my colleague Mis Yousra , Director of the Cultural Relations Dept and her associates .
Special recognition and acknowledgement goes to the member of Student Cultural Committee (SCC) for the tireless work to make us happy today.