Dana Al Anzy, youth advocate for Education Above All (EAA).
DOHA: Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) student advocated the right of access to education for children around the world, at the United Nations General Assembly recently.
Dana Al Anzy, who is a youth advocate for Education Above All (EAA), attended the 71st session of the assembly in New York .
EAA, an initiative founded in 2012 by
H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, aims to build a global movement that contributes to human, social and economic development through the provision of quality education. The initiative particularly focuses on the needs of children, women and the youth affected by poverty, conflict and disaster, and aims to empower them to become active community members.
“My role was to represent Qatari youth and indicate their active involvement through our training and projects in the field of access to education,” said Al Anzy of her participation in the recent UN meeting.
“Education alone is not enough. For it to be effective, it needs to sit alongside economic empowerment, leadership skills and psychosocial support. This is a model unique to EAA that is not just about supporting individuals to improve their lives, but building the skills of whole communities to build a better future. My aim was to relay these messages continuously on a platform where political leaders and influencers existed to insist for change and action. A shift in ideas is the first step towards creating change — and what better way to shift the narrative on youth and education than by hearing from youth and a student herself.”
Al Anzy has been part of the EAA youth advocacy programme since her first year at GU-Q, which has enabled her to benefit from training in leadership skills, vocational skills, cultural sensitivity, project management and facilitation, to support her work with the organisation.
“EAA’s youth advocacy programme is – first and foremost – about strengthening relationships between young people in Qatar and those across the rest of the world to promote the importance of access to education for all,” explained Al Anzy.
“As an EAA Youth Advocate, I have travelled to Ethiopia to help establish a youth mentoring project to keep young people in school and at the UN, I was given the opportunity to publically address the need for education to be at the heart of all development planning.”
“I am proud to be part of an organisation which has set a target of educating 10 million out-of- school children, is expanding its higher education and leadership skills programme to offer support to thousands of Syrian refugees, and is advocating for a change in international law to protect education in areas affected by conflict.”
Over the summer, Al Anzy interned at the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in New York. She also participated in a General Assembly High Level Thematic Conversation at the United Nations headquarters on youth and children affected by violent extremism. This led to her work at the recent United Nations General Assembly session, where she participated in side events and meetings to draw attention to the needs of the youth, and reported back to public through social media and official outlets about EAA activities.
