Delegates pose for a group photo during the conference.
Doha, Qatar: A delegation of female students from Qatar University (QU) recently participated in the 2023 United Nations Leadership and Humanitarian Affairs Conference held at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok, Thailand.
They took part in lectures, workshops, and community initiatives, showcasing their commitment to driving global change. The theme for this year’s conference was encapsulated by the phrase “Be the Change.” Against this backdrop, the delegates from QU embodied the spirit of transformation through their enthusiastic engagement and thoughtful contributions.
Maha Al Bader, one of the participating students, shared her insights, saying, “Being an active member of the international community means being part of positive change. This opportunity allowed us to engage in positive change and put it into action through our participation in community service activities.”
Maha added, “Community service and volunteering are essential parts of our development as societies. One of its positive impacts is seeing and realizing that despite all our differences, whether in language, culture, or ethnicity, we are very similar. Our goal was to help our communities.”
On the conference’s culminating day, the students were privileged to partake in workshops presented by United Nations-affiliated entities, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and the International Organization for Migration. These workshops provided the students with an immersive learning experience, offering them fresh perspectives on crucial humanitarian issues.
In a fitting finale, the Ambassador of Australia to Thailand, H E Dr. Angela Macdonald underscored the importance of the conference’s theme and reinforcing the delegates’ commitment to catalyzing positive change.
Aisha Al Ansari, one of the participating students, stated, “This participation gave me the opportunity to meet several inspirational individuals and learn about the various challenges they faced and how they overcame them. In addition to becoming familiar with different humanitarian issues through workshops, where students presented their creative perspectives and ideas. A unique experience introduced us as students from different cultural backgrounds. We exchanged opinions and shared viewpoints on various humanitarian, academic, and life topics. I learned from this experience that cultural differences are not a barrier to achieving positive change in the world; they can actually be a source of strength in making change happen.”
The students also visited the Embassy of Qatar in the Kingdom of Thailand, accompanied by H E Ambassador Ahmed Ali Abdulrahman Al Jamil Al Tamimi and embassy representatives.
The visit offered the students a unique insight into the diplomatic landscape and reinforced the significance of global collaboration.
Expressing her admiration for the profound impact of this experience, Sumaya Zein, the head of the QU delegation, stated, “This experience had a significant impact on our students on multiple levels. It contributed to refining their talents and skills when they were given the opportunity to express themselves, their culture, and their society at an event of such importance and in front of a large number of students from different nationalities.”
