Mrs. Mubarak attends celebration on World Volunteering Day
Egypt, Culture, 12/13/2004

Egypt's First Lady Suzanne Mubarak said "I was keen to take part in the celebrations of the World Volunteering Day out of belief in the voluntary work and in the specialty of the celebration that came upon an initiative of Egyptian youth who are willing to express love and affiliation by taking serious actions and proposing enlightened initiatives.

The issue of voluntary social work has become highly important in building civilized societies. The voluntary work is no longer an expression of duty, but rather it has become a necessity that tops development priorities.

Nowadays world's voluntary work has become a public wealth of the whole society. Hence, the voluntary social work has turned into becoming one of the most important methods used in upgrading societies and forming a parallel tool to government efforts to meet increasing needs of both the developing and developed societies.

Concepts and methods of the social work have come under several changes to live up to the increasing needs of the society. Provision of humanitarian services no longer represents the core of the social work which has turned into becoming a basic pillar for economic and social development and a criterion to gauge the society progress.

Egypt has been through a very important stage of its national work, seriously working to realize development and modernization and making utmost efforts to improve the living standards of the Egyptian citizens.

This current stage requires the positive contribution and participation of the Egyptian youth in the national work efforts, out of concern to have young people lead efforts to build the society in all fields.

Mrs. Mubarak said the young people are able to take the lead in introducing changes in the society due to available opportunities for democratic participation for young people in the social and political life.

The young generation has all technological means to be in touch with world technological catch up and get acquainted with the new cultures and concepts.

This generation can also make a remarkable breakthrough towards achieving development in the society, out of conviction that rights of citizenship include meeting duties toward the society.

Promotion of the national work is linked to ability of the young people to participate in different fields of development.

There is a strong relation between youth and voluntary work, especially in societies in which young people make up majority of population such as the Egyptian society where voluntary work offers great opportunities for young people to express their affiliations and use their abilities.

Participation of young people forms one of the main methods to promote self-confidence, enhance responsibility toward the others and promote ability of creation and concept of collective work and cooperation.

All these experiences help enhance ability of young people to participate in the decision-making process and qualify them to be future leaders of the national work.

Mrs. Mubarak also urged to hold dialogue with young people to get acquainted with their viewpoints and allow them participate in tackling the national issues.

She further pressed for providing incentives for young people to encourage creation among them as long as ideas of young people serve the national interests.

Mrs. Mubarak welcomed "Serve Your Country" initiative, proposed by a group of young people in cooperation with Egypt's volunteers' network and the Youth Ministry, to put forward a new volunteering project for young people to contribute in developing the society.

Mrs. Mubarak said fields of participation are now open to cover all walks of life.

How many remarkable projects have started with simple ideas that lead to introducing major changes in the society, Mrs. Mubarak wondered.

I have witnessed such an experience myself, represented in the Reading-for-All project, the giant cultural project that enriched the cultural life in Egypt.

It has started with a simple dream of some people who considered reading as one of the human rights and that books must be available for every citizen.

Mobile libraries moving everywhere in Egypt has started with a small school library in an impoverished district in Cairo to turn into becoming a remarkable example such as the Biobliotheca Alexandrina that has become a beacon of knowledge on the banks of the Mediterranean.

Projects of childhood and motherhood also emerged from simple ideas, turning into becoming major national identities that led to paying more attention to childhood and motherhood, caring for cancer patients, housing projects, youth qualification programs, urban development, slums, etc.

All such remarkable achievements were the core of simple ideas that have come true due to efforts of those responsible to become indelible signs the Egyptian society.

Our efforts have also hit the world arena, represented in the establishment of the Suzanne Mubarak international women movement that adopted the message of peace and activation of the women role for achieving security and stability for the whole humanity.

Such efforts, which bear hopes and aspirations of the future, require participation of young people to realize such goals."

ÊÊÊ Mrs. Mubarak also called for rallying efforts to enhance youth participation in drawing up guidelines for the future for sending a clear message to the whole society that Egypt deserves our love, sincerity and loyalty.

Previous Stories:
  Mrs. Mubarak opens 21st session of children's books fair   (12/1/2004)
  Mrs. Mubarak discusses rehabilitation of street kids, combating FGM, addiction   (11/2/2004)
  Mrs. Mubarak attends golden jubilee of Al Nour Wal Amal Society   (9/28/2004)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search