Covid-19 opportunity for sustainable growth

Youth urged to step forward with innovative solutions to virus

ISLAMABAD: The youth have a key role to play in not only helping mitigate impacts of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) and to shape a post-pandemic world.

This was discussed as around 50 participants from over 15 countries came together at a webinar on "Role and Challenges of Youth in Global Crisis - COVID-19".  Youth from Azerbaijan, Botswana, Cameroon, China, Egypt, Ghana, Greece, Jordan, Kenya, Norway, Pakistan, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda; UK, and Zimbabwe participated in the webinar, organized by COMSATS. It was moderated by a Kenyan youth leader,  Nafula Wafula, policy and advocacy vice-chairperson at the Commonwealth Youth Council.

In his remarks, COMSATS Executive Director Dr SM Junaid Zaidi offered the commission as an effective platform for the youth to come together and apply their faculties to play their due role for resolution of global challenges, only one of which was the current pandemic.

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"With the right approaches," Dr Zaidi said, "Covid-19 crisis can be turned into an opportunity to further grow towards sustainability.”

He added that the youth can play an important role in finding innovative solutions to emerging global threats such as the pandemic.

COMSATS Assistant Director (Programmes) Engr Qaiser Nawab highlighted the role of the youth in bringing necessary change in the society given they were provided necessary resources and opportunities.

A few Chinese students, who volunteered for community service during the pandemic, shared their experiences and emphasized joint, global efforts to cater to the needs of the masses.

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It was further suggested that technological education should be incorporated in the curricula from the very grassroots level to build youth's capacity in relevant spheres.

It was opined that early shift to digital tools and methods can help address the challenges of rising youth unemployment.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2020.