H.E. Mrs. Rawan bint Najeeb Tawfeeqi, Minister of Youth Affairs, affirmed that the Hope Network constitutes an international platform bringing together young people, policymakers and experts from diverse countries and sectors. The Network facilitates the exchange of expertise, strengthens partnerships and supports the translation of ideas into impactful initiatives. Her Excellency reaffirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to placing youth investment at the heart of its vision for the future through developing their skills and creating an enabling environment for their effective participation and contribution to opportunity creation.
The remarks were delivered during the opening session of the Hope Network – Brain Bar 2026 event, held in Budapest alongside Brain Bar 2026, in the presence of Mr. Gergely Böszörményi-Nagy, Founder of Brain Bar and a member of the Hope Network, as well as a number of distinguished Network members and participants.
Her Excellency highlighted the opportunities presented by rapid technological developments to enhance communication and knowledge exchange, emphasising the importance of harnessing these opportunities to strengthen youth participation in issues of relevance to their communities, expand avenues for cooperation, and support the development of sustainable and impactful initiatives.
Her Excellency further underscored the Network’s role in connecting experiences and expertise across countries, fostering constructive dialogue and cross-border cooperation, and translating ideas into practical initiatives and partnerships that deliver tangible impact.
As part of the event, H.E. the Minister presented H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, with a Hope Network case study on the UAE’s “Youth Spaces” initiative, highlighting the initiative’s experience in establishing youth-led spaces that promote youth participation and community engagement.
The event also featured a recorded address by H.E. Mr. Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, who affirmed the importance accorded to youth by the GCC Member States, recognising their central role in development and in shaping the future. He emphasised the importance of continuing to develop mechanisms that harness young people’s potential and strengthen their effective participation, while commending the objectives and mission of the Hope Network in advancing international cooperation, investing in youth potential and engaging young people in shaping future visions and solutions.
The programme included an interactive session and workshops bringing together representatives of Network member states and young participants to review forthcoming programmes and initiatives, explore opportunities for enhanced cooperation and exchange of experiences, and identify opportunities for joint youth projects.
