The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) recently graduated members of its 2018 Youth Panel – an ambassadorial programme launched to help young people contribute to Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup™.

This year’s Youth Panel comprised 54 young people aged 14-21 from schools across Qatar. Over two years, the graduates took part in workshops with SC staff and Qatar 2022 stakeholders, with each focusing on a different aspect of the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East and Arab world. In addition, they visited Qatar 2022 stadiums and volunteered at SC-organised events.

This is the final Youth Panel class, with the SC now planning to organise alumni events between now and the start of the tournament. Since its launch in 2015, the Youth Panel has given more than 180 students from 20 nationalities the opportunity to learn more about Qatar 2022 and develop skills which complement their academic learning.

Due to COVID-19, the SC was unable to hold a graduation ceremony, opting instead to distribute graduation packages to panelists, including an appreciation certificate and a Fitbit.

Youth Panel graduate Asila Ahmed said the programme is helping to empower Qatar’s next generation.

“It’s shedding a lot of light on the fact that youth and the younger generation have a huge impact on the future of Qatar, not just in the sense of 2022, but economically and media-wise.”

Another member, Ali Darwish, said the programme provided unique insight into the SC’s planning for Qatar 2022.

“The Youth Panel experience has been interesting, especially as we have been able to go behind the scenes for the preparations for the World Cup.”

In future, the SC will involve Youth Panel alumni in various Qatar 2022 events.

“In the five years that we ran the Youth Panel programme, we provided local youngsters with the opportunity to become engaged in the process of the SC’s efforts to prepare and host the next FIFA World Cup,” said Lana Kayed, the SC’s Community & Cultural Programme Manager.

“With the Youth Panel alumni programme, graduates will have a pathway to the next level of engagement with the SC and be able to harness the new skills and information they have gained during their time on the panel. As the next generation of young leaders in Qatar, we are excited to see these youngsters’ contributions in delivering a memorable world-class event in 2022.”