Islam and the West: Annual Report on the State of Dialogue

<strong>Islam</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>: <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> on <strong>the</strong> State of Dialogue
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Education <strong>and</strong> Intercultural Underst<strong>and</strong>ing
Box 6.4
Young People : The Imperative
Sheikha Hessa Al Khalifa
Sheikha Hessa Al Khalifa is Executive Director of inJAz Bahrain, an organization that encourages entrepreneurial
spirit among young Bahrainis. She is an active member of <strong>the</strong> royal family of <strong>the</strong> Kingdom of Bahrain.
More than a quarter of <strong>the</strong> world’s 2.3 billion children live in <strong>Islam</strong>ic countries <strong>and</strong> more than 40% of all Muslims are
children. We need to invest both in programmes that provide for <strong>the</strong>ir basic material human needs <strong>and</strong> in education
that ensures <strong>the</strong>m access to economic opportunities.
We must truly believe in <strong>the</strong> boundless potential of young people, respect <strong>the</strong>ir talents, creativity, perspectives, <strong>and</strong>
backgrounds, as well as treat <strong>the</strong>m as partners <strong>and</strong> collaborators. Attitudes <strong>and</strong> education, toge<strong>the</strong>r, have vital roles
to play in making <strong>the</strong>se ideals a reality.
The 2005 UNICEF <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Organization of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Islam</strong>ic Conference report, Investing in <strong>the</strong> Children of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Islam</strong>ic World,
argues forcefully that children should be <strong>the</strong> focal point for <strong>Islam</strong>ic governments in <strong>the</strong>ir drive for development. It highlights
both <strong>the</strong> rights of children <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir welfare: “Investing in children <strong>and</strong> putting <strong>the</strong>m at <strong>the</strong> center of development strategies
are <strong>the</strong> most effective ways to eliminate poverty <strong>and</strong> meet global development targets.”
The stark reality is that <strong>Islam</strong>ic countries have both very privileged <strong>and</strong> deeply deprived children. Many face enormous
barriers to survival <strong>and</strong> have little chance to thrive <strong>and</strong> grow to productive adulthood. <strong>Islam</strong>ic sub-Saharan Africa faces
<strong>the</strong> severest deprivations: a child born <strong>the</strong>re can expect to live only 46 years, compared to 78 in industrialized countries.
Challenges vary widely country by country, but <strong>the</strong> global Millennium Development Goals are still far off in many places.
Primary school participation is below 60% in 20 African <strong>Islam</strong>ic countries; in some countries more than half <strong>the</strong> adult
population is illiterate. Four out of 10 children in <strong>the</strong> African <strong>Islam</strong>ic countries are out of school, as are a quarter of children
in Arab member states. Yet, primary school participation in Asian <strong>Islam</strong>ic countries is about 82%, with gender-parity.
Gender bias in education is strong in many African <strong>and</strong> Arab countries, but more girls than boys are in school in
Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, <strong>the</strong> Occupied Palestinian Territory <strong>and</strong> Oman.
Over a third of all children in <strong>Islam</strong>ic countries, excluding <strong>the</strong> Arab sub-region, are chronically malnourished. Health is
a critical issue. Of <strong>the</strong> six countries where polio is still endemic, five are majority Muslim. Maternal <strong>and</strong> under five mortality
rates are exceptionally high in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Islam</strong>ic countries. <strong>Islam</strong>ic countries account for 11 of <strong>the</strong> 16 countries with <strong>the</strong> world's
highest child mortality rates; some 4.3 million children under five die each year from preventable disease <strong>and</strong> malnutrition.
Child labour is still far too common.
There is room for hope. Exciting possibilities modelled by programmes in parts of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Islam</strong>ic world offer <strong>the</strong> promise
of reaching across boundaries to young people who aim for common goals. As <strong>the</strong>y work <strong>and</strong> learn toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y
gravitate towards common st<strong>and</strong>ards <strong>and</strong> are truly on an equal par with each o<strong>the</strong>r as global citizens. Business <strong>and</strong>
entrepreneurship programmes involve young people as partners to improve life quality <strong>and</strong> skills. Financial literacy has
become essential for all communities.
H<strong>and</strong>s on experience teaches entrepreneurship <strong>and</strong> work brings young people into <strong>the</strong> real world <strong>and</strong> opens <strong>the</strong>ir
minds to <strong>the</strong>ir potential. Business <strong>and</strong> civil society working toge<strong>the</strong>r can generate inspirational messages <strong>and</strong> hope,
so that young people can make a difference in <strong>the</strong> world.
If <strong>the</strong> world community works toge<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong>se barriers to survival can be overcome.