“In Yemen, more than 50 percent of the population are youth,” said Yazan Al-Eryani, Deputy Head of the Yemeni embassy in Brussels, “and we know that each one of these youths plays a very important role. Peace will not come unless youth are involved, development will not come unless youth are involved.”

This roundtable, hosted by the Office of Public Affairs of the Baha’is of Yemen together with the Brussels office of the Baha’i International Community (BBIC), is the third in a series to discuss how to foster social cohesion in Yemen within and across communities. During this hybrid event held in Brussels, entitled “Fostering Unity: the Role of Youth in Yemen’s Social Fabric,” participants delved into several questions: What conditions are necessary for youth to take on a more prominent role in community and societal life? How can young people come to see themselves as catalysts for positive change?

“The roundtable provided a space for Yemeni grassroots actors, youth activists, diplomats and representatives of European Union organizations to learn together about creating environments which enable youth to bring a meaningful contribution to society. It also emphasized the importance of fostering both horizontal and vertical collaborations to support these enabling environments,” said Sina Varaei, from the BIC in Brussels, referring to engagement between grassroots actors but also the necessity to reach out to institutions. “Youth are not a monolithic group, but a diverse group that has the capacity to bring diverse people together,” Varaei said.

“Imagine the impact youth can have if they are included in decision-making processes on key issues in Yemen, the amount of energy, insight and commitment they can bring for the progress of Yemen and for cohesion,” said Alhan Al-Sakkaf, a Yemeni youth invited by the Baha’is of Yemen to the meeting. “The period of youth is a crucial moment in life,” she added, saying that young people “possess a strong sense of community service, are filled with enthusiasm, and have a keen understanding of their community's reality.”

Naghmeh Sobhani, a Senior Peacebuilding Consultant at Unicef, introduced the concept of “transformative participation,” stressing the need not only to engage the youth in existing initiatives but to actively co-create projects. “It’s about fostering a sense of agency that transcends individual identity groups,” she explained, while also underscoring the need to rethink the role of education. “What are some key elements of understanding that can lead to a more cohesive society?” 

Aisha Al-Jaeedy, a youth activist and political science student at the American University in Cairo, further said that “the only hope that is arising from Yemen is the mentality of young people,” who still face and navigate the challenges of growing up in war-torn and socially divided regions. Feryal Al-Naseem, from the Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies, said that, among other issues, was the shortage of safe spaces for young people to engage in social and cultural activities and to openly discuss important matters.

Abrar Aiash, a Yemeni youth, discussed the key role of youth online, especially on social media. “This creativity must be used to spread good principles in society,” she said, “and be a reason for instilling the concept of coexistence among members of Yemeni society.” Aiash mentioned online initiatives that spread awareness regarding mental health, human rights, the environment, and others, which convey the beauty and diversity of Yemeni regions.

The discussion also benefited from valuable insights from across the region. Yasmin Ghazaleh Ainie, President of the Syrian Women’s Forum, shared her experiences from Syria, stating the importance of amplifying youth voices in discourse and dialogue to shape new policies and narratives. She said, “We aim to develop legislation, with the support of civil society, to ensure youth are included in all forms of civil society discussion panels.”