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By Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Development; Director-General, Expo 2020 Dubai; and Chairwoman of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals.

There is a lot of discussion about the Sustainable Development Goals this week, and most of it by government officials. But make no mistake, this is a grassroots movement and everyone, especially our youth, has a role to play in the future of human development.

We are at a critical moment in time where we have the opportunity to address challenges that affect every aspect of our life and pave the way for a bright future for the next generations - but we can only achieve this critical ambition if the world comes together, individual by individual.

We are nearly 8 billion people, meaning 8 billion possibilities for positive change.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - which set out objectives to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind, by 2030 - were conceived by grassroots organisations and people like you and me. They require each one of us to become familiar with them, to think innovatively and to take action.

They reflect the vision of the UAE Founding Father, the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, for a sustainable future, and the UAE was one of the first nations to support Agenda 2030 and pair it with our national priorities.

The SDGs are a key focus of Expo 2020 Dubai, the first World Expo to be held in the Arab world. From the outset, Expo 2020 has been about so much more than the six months of the event; our aim is to support the UAE's long-term strategic vision for a prosperous future, while bringing the world together to create positive change.

Expo 2020 will be one of the first times that citizens will be actively encouraged to come together with nations, businesses, multilateral organisations and educational institutions from all over the world and form meaningful partnerships that can drive global change, in line with the SDGs.

We expect 25 million visits to Expo, with 70 per cent coming from outside the UAE. We must leverage this opportunity to advance such an important message; one that could impact human development for generations to come.

We are working with various social development partners to create and deliver an interactive visitor journey around the SDGs that aims to not only engage millions of visitors with the agenda but, most importantly, to inspire and empower them to take their own action towards human development. It represents 25 million opportunities to take positive action.

Youth must be at the heart of our efforts to achieve the SDGs. Youth make up almost two-thirds of the Middle East population and we expect 2.5 million school students to visit Expo 2020. We cannot leave any one of them behind.

During a visit to the Expo 2020 site in December, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, implored the UAE's young people to take hold of the opportunities available at Expo 2020 to help shape the future - their future.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: "The youth should play a key part in this mega event and get opportunities to observe, learn and contribute creative ideas so that they can develop innovative solutions for creating a better future for our region and the world."

His Highness Sheikh Zayed wisely advised that youth needed to be encouraged and supported to participate in the process of nation building. The SDGs are a prime example of how they can actively participate in cultivating a bright future for themselves, and for all.

Expo 2020's Opportunity Pavilion (one of three Thematic Pavilions) will be a dedicated home for the SDGs throughout the six months of Expo, using interactive journeys, workshops and gaming components to enhance awareness of these crucial objectives and how everyone can be involved in achieving them. At the very least we want visitors to become aware of the goals and, at the most, to trigger reaction so they leave as agents of change, whether in their communities or on a bigger scale.

Achieving the SDGs requires us to think innovatively. We cannot advance the lives of all if we continue on our current path. Expo 2020 will showcase successful and impactful solutions to the world's biggest challenges, both through the Expo 2020 Global Best Practice Programme, 'Small Steps, Big Leaps', and its global social impact programme, Expo Live.

The solutions highlighted in the 'Small Steps, Big Leaps' programme can be developed and implemented by anyone, from communities and creative individuals to countries, companies and international organisations.

Expo Live is already having a valuable impact globally through it support of 70 Global Innovators in 43 countries, plus 28 university student teams in the UAE. The USD 100 million programme backs projects that offer creative solutions to pressing challenges that impact people's lives or help preserve the planet - or both - but would not reach their full potential without its support.

Many of the Expo Live-supported projects have demonstrated increased impact in areas related to the SDGs. It proves that innovation can come from anywhere, to everyone. The 200 international participants at Expo 2020 - including 190 nations - will have the opportunity to showcase their progress towards the SDGs and the global agenda.

Governments are placing sustainable development at the core of their strategies to ensure prosperity economically and socially, but we will not be successful in achieving the SDGs if governments are left to shoulder the responsibility alone. Every individual has their role to play in achieving a better future for all. We are four years into the agenda; we have 11 years to go and there's a lot left to do.

Our future is in our hands. The SDGs are shared goals and will lead to shared success. Do not underestimate your individual contribution; do not delay your action.

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8 billion people, 8 billion opportunities

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By Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Development; Director-General, Expo 2020 Dubai; and Chairwoman of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals. There is a lot of discussion about the Sustainable Development Goals this week, and most of it by government officials.

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How can you, as a consumer, make the right choices? Know about Fairtrade and keep it in mind when you go to the supermarket next time.
YOU can help make sure that producers, workers and the environment have good wellbeing and sustainable livelihoods.
LEARN MORE: https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/what-is-fairtrade/what-fairtrade-does/

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As the World Tolerance Summit (WTS) kicks off in Dubai, the spotlight is on the youth to spread tolerance in their schools, universities and communities. The two-day summit is being held under the theme: 'Prospering from Pluralism: Embracing Diversity through Innovation and Collaboration'. Students from over 15 universities in the UAE are part of the summit that aims to establish a culture of openness and civilised dialogue and contribute to the rejection of extremism.

Gulf News speaks to some of them from diverse nationalities and a range of schools and universities to find out what tolerance means to them.

"For me tolerance is the ability to accept another person's opinions culture and traditions, whether or not you believe them yourself. It is all about being understanding, accepting and considerate. I have friends from different backgrounds and we all get along really well. I am a foodie and for me personally having access to various cuisines in the UAE is an example how how tolerant we are as a nation.

"Tolerance is the active coexistence of various cultures and UAE is a fine example of this. The UAE is a melting pot where we have people from various backgrounds living in harmony."

"Tolerance is respecting others regardless of their religion or nationality. It is about having a fair and objective attitude towards others whose lifestyle differs from yours."

"The UAE is truly an example of a tolerant nation. It has given opportunities to people from different backgrounds and this has encouraged me as an individual to be more accepting. Tolerance is also about having an open mind about learning new things."

For me, tolerance represents virtues such as acceptance and inclusion. Respect for people different from you, whether it is because of their cultural backgrounds, abilities, race and ethnicity or belief systems - all this amounts to being tolerant. Removing ignorant and discriminatory attitudes as well as bullying and bias against people different from yourself, through awareness is an important step to further propel tolerance among the youth and people.

For me tolerance is the ability to respect people even though they may be different to what we are comfortable with. It is also being able to support and accept everyone regardless of the fact that they may be different from you. Tolerance is very important today as it brings a sense of respect, individuality, diversity and peace among everyone.

Tolerance for me is a simple thought. It is all about accepting someone regardless of whether they connect with you or not. We all have different belief systems and thoughts and accepting everyone for who they are is being tolerant.

"Tolerance, to me, is more than just showing other people respect. It is respect that has been birthed out of an attempt to understand others in our environment so as to communicate effectively and operate as a functional society. Understanding comes from learning and to learn, we must listen. We need to quiet our own voices for a moment as well as the initial assumption that we may hold in order to see another perspective and make decisions which benefit everyone. This means stepping out of our bubble of convenience and sometimes changing the way things are usually done. Tolerance is not just a statement, it is conscious actions that generate unity."

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What does tolerance mean to these students in UAE

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As the World Tolerance Summit (WTS) kicks off in Dubai, the spotlight is on the youth to spread tolerance in their schools, universities and communities. The two-day summit is being held under the theme: 'Prospering from Pluralism: Embracing Diversity through Innovation and Collaboration'.

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The world is an unfair place. Do you think you can't do anything about it?

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The world is an unfair place. Do you think you can't do anything about it?

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Each person's contribution helps balance the scale a little bit more.

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They are impacting the lives of more than 20 million individuals in 60 developing countries and continues to play a vital role in helping achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for children and youth and promote lifelong learning by 2030.
Website: http://www.dubaicares.ae/
Your donation can bring hope for a better future for children, their families and their entire community.

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Dubai Cares

Our programs are spread out across 60 developing countries around the world.

Dubai Cares is impacting the lives of more than 20 million individuals in 60 developing countries and continues to play a vital role in helping achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for children and youth and promote lifelong learning by 2030.

Explore Our Programs

For better web experience, please use the website in portrait mode

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TenTwenty | Webdesign, Webshops & E-marketing | Dubai

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Dubai Cares is playing a key role in helping achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning by 2030, by supporting programs in early childhood development, access to quality primary and secondary education, technical and vocational education and training for youth as well as a particular focus on education in emergencies and protracted crises.

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Provides for widows, orphans, the unemployed, the elderly and the disabled.
Website: http://www.mbrfoundation.ae/

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يسلّط المتحف الضوء على أهمية ومكانة جائزة نوبل المرموقة على الصعيد العالمي ومساهمة الفائزين بها في تغيير العالم كما نعرفه اليوم.

ويتيح المتحف للزوار تعرُّف تفاصيل هذه الجائزة العالمية والفائزين بها وأهم إنجازاتهم. وكانت مؤسسة محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم للمعرفة أول جهة عربية توقِّع اتفاقية شراكة حصرية لمدة 10 سنوات مع مؤسسة نوبل العالمية، بهدف تنظيم المتحف في مواقع عدة على المستوى المحلي والإقليمي.

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mohammed bin rashid al maktoum knowledge foundation

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Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation

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مؤسسة محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم للمعرفة

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يسلّط المتحف الضوء على أهمية ومكانة جائزة نوبل المرموقة على الصعيد العالمي ومساهمة الفائزين بها في تغيير العالم كما نعرفه اليوم. ويتيح المتحف للزوار تعرُّف تفاصيل هذه الجائزة العالمية والفائزين بها وأهم إنجازاتهم. وكانت مؤسسة محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم للمعرفة أول جهة عربية توقِّع اتفاقية شراكة حصرية لمدة 10 سنوات مع مؤسسة نوبل العالمية، بهدف تنظيم المتحف في مواقع عدة على المستوى المحلي والإقليمي.

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It is a Ramadan global fundraising campaign launched by the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
It focuses on the impact individuals can create within seconds in the lives of refugee and displaced families.
People can donate through the webpage: https://donate.unhcr.org/int/ramadan-2021/~my-donation

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To combat global hunger and malnutrition in the developing world.
- Ramadan campaign, the largest food drive in the region initiated by the UAE.

TO DONATE:
- Donations starting from Dh10 to Dh500 can be made on https://www.100millionmeals.ae/