Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. George Klass, chaired an expanded meeting attended by Dr. Ziad Mikati, Advisor to Prime Minister Najib Mikati for International Cooperation, Georgia Varisko, Director of the Youth and Adolescents Department at UNICEF, and Abir Abu Zaki, Youth and Adolescent Development and Participation Specialist at UNICEF. Also present were Kamal Shia, President of the Masar Association, and Rania Al-Sabaa, Executive Director of the association and Secretary of the Youth Forum on Youth Policies. Representing the ministry were Joseph Saadallah, Head of the Youth Department, Hassan Sharara, Head of Public Relations and Media, and Dr. Mirna Sabra, Ministerial Advisor.
In detail, Minister Klass emphasized the importance of establishing practical frameworks for implementing the youth policy and the resulting executive action plan approved by the Cabinet, and launching an executive workshop focused on maximizing youth benefits from the plan and its programs.
Mikati conveyed the Prime Minister's statement that the topic of youth in general and the implementation of youth policy, specifically the executive action plan, is a top priority for the government, as addressing youth needs, concerns, and issues is the most crucial matter for the nation's future.
The meeting participants proposed to implement the executive action plan for youth policy, distribute tasks, and work towards forming a specialized ministerial committee that includes all relevant ministries and another executive committee comprising representatives from related entities, especially youth.
It was agreed to create a list of programs and activities to be implemented, distribute tasks, communicate with various relevant executing bodies, define a range of funders and beneficiaries, and ensure that the benefits extend to all Lebanese territories and all youth categories.