UAE Minister of Foreign Trade H.E. Sheikha Lubna delivers keynote address at Leadership in Action Youth Conference

H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, delivered the keynote address during the Leadership in Action (LIA) Youth Conference which started today (Saturday, June 21, 2008) and runs up to June 23, 2008 at the Crown Plaza Dubai, UAE. Prestigious speakers and organizations will discuss key issues and trends interactively in what will be the first major youth leadership video conferencing sessions in the Middle East.
A special program of Manhattan Consulting Inc. USA, the Conference has selected 100 elite students to learn from inspirational video presentations and enhance leadership skills through unique formative activities. Participants will be guided by highly-experienced trainers from The Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration, a student event and leadership training specialist.
“We all have very fond memories of our youth, which remain with us throughout the rest of our lives.  These memories encompass beautiful experiences, friendships, difficult challenges and indelible achievements. The teenage and young years in our life are the most crucial because these years mark the cornerstone of our career and our future; whether we are able to achieve our dreams and whether we are able to make our mark in this world depends so much on the foundations we set during our formative years,” said H.E. Sheikha Lubna.
Dubai and the UAE as a whole serve as the perfect backdrop for the event; as the Emirates’ leaders continue to emphasize the vital role of youth in nation building. There are in fact various national programs specifically geared towards the development of highly-skilled and fully prepared Emirati.
“Our leaders have so much trust, faith, and expectations from our generation of youth, as rightly expressed by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, who said “We believe that our youth are the backbone of the nation and the foundation on which to develop this noble civilization, unaffected by the wind of change, no matter how hard it blows,” and also remarked that “The present and future generations of our country are the top priority of all development plans.” On this note, I’d like to encourage all the brilliant youngsters to step up and make a difference in society,” added H.E. Sheikha Lubna.
Among the prestigious organizations participating in the event are Kiwanis International; NASA; and various regional educational institutions. The impressive lineup of speakers includes baseball legend Lou Gehrig; Mr. Raman Lazar, an alumnus of the University of Southern California; Dr. Dr. Leida Javier-Ferrell, former Dean of Student Affairs at the Leadership and TQM San German Campus, Inter American University of Puerto Rico; Media expert Ms. Ellen Bohnstengel; and talented 10-year-old Adora Stivak.
The three-day Conference will feature inspiring sessions on topics such as creating vision, mission, and action plans; inspiring and mobilizing communities in grassroots action; developing skills in conflict mediation, communication, and problem-solving; and networking. Participants will also tour Nakheel’s visionary Palm Jumeirah project. Students will receive a Certificate of Participation from Manhattan Consulting Inc USA; a college recommendation letter upon request; and a free college admissions counseling session at the end of the event.