As I have become accustomed each time to writing about my experience with the “World Youth Forum,” today—now that the curtain has fallen on the fourth edition of the “World Youth Forum,” under the slogan “Back together,” which was held from 10 to 13 January 2022 in Sharm El-Sheikh—I recount to you the details of my experience this year and the impressions it left in me, which certainly will not differ much from the impressions of all the participants in this global event.

The experience began with a phone call from the forum’s organizing committee: “You are invited to participate in the World Youth Forum under the patronage and in the presence of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic.” At that moment, feelings became mixed between joy, eagerness, and curiosity about what Egypt would present in this forum after two previous experiences for me in 2018 and 2019. This was followed by the arrival of the official invitation via email, which included a set of requirements, including receiving the vaccine and taking a PCR test within 72 hours before arriving in Sharm El-Sheikh—signaling that this edition would deal with the new reality with utmost firmness to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect the safety of all participants. In my view, that was the greatest challenge at a time when the virus was spreading fiercely across the world and there was news of some countries reimposing closures, while Egypt was receiving 5,000 young men and women from all over the world—affirming that the new reality and the future are being made in Egypt.

As soon as I arrived at Sharm El-Sheikh Airport, I found everything prepared in advance with complete professionalism. Egypt welcomed its sons and its guests with great warmth and hospitality, while emphasizing the necessity of adhering to precautionary measures for everyone’s safety. Next to the airport area there was a tent, which is considered the participant’s first station, where the participation badge is received, and there you find a beehive of Egyptian youth who love their country—whose slogan is excellence, creativity, and a strong desire for everything to be as perfect as possible.

Once we arrived at the accommodation hotel, I found two other teams at reception: one for room assignments and the other to verify the vaccine certificate and the PCR certificate. Yet those were not sufficient for them—there was no leniency in applying precautionary measures—so another immediate PCR test was conducted before I entered the hotel. After confirming being free of COVID-19 and having received the vaccine, you wear a wristband that bears the slogan of recovery.

Then came the moment of launching the fourth edition of the “World Youth Forum,” attended by His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, a number of world leaders, and many official guests representing countries at the highest levels. The starting point came from a robot that confirmed to His Excellency the President and to all participants that the precautionary measures were fully applied. Here, the curtain was lifted on a new stage of the future that Egypt declares clearly: artificial intelligence and robots will be part of our coming lives, and the World Youth Forum includes a number of robots within it that perform different tasks during the forum. My impressions of them were completely different—just a few days earlier I had been very happy that robots were present throughout “Expo 2020 Dubai,” and I never imagined I would find them in Egypt, specifically at the World Youth Forum. What increased my happiness was the announcement that they were made in Egypt. With the continuation of the dazzling opening ceremony—as is the case with everything Egypt has organized in recent years—hologram technology was also present strongly, making this opening and this edition of the “World Youth Forum” a message that the future is Egyptian, launched by the hands of Egypt’s youth, alongside the youth of the world.

With the start of the forum’s activities, I found great diversity in the topics presented in the forum halls, dealing with international and humanitarian issues and seeking to build a future in which youth participate, working together to fix what the pandemic has damaged and revealed. It also highlighted what the Egyptian state has done in efforts across all fields, especially the health sector and the digital transformation sector, and steps toward the future, as well as working to achieve partnerships with all local and global institutions to realize the state’s vision and future direction. It also shed light on the largest development project in the region and the world in the twenty-first century: the “Hayah Karima” project, which aims to improve the lives of 60% of Egyptians living in the countryside, at a total cost of 700 billion pounds as an unprecedented budget whose goal is to eliminate forms of multidimensional poverty and improve the life of the Egyptian citizen in rural areas.

As the forum’s activities continue, there is a strong state of diversity and inclusiveness that the organizing committee was keen to ensure within the forum. You find art, heritage, culture, and the social dimension—all melting together with the youth of the world in one crucible, producing the best in young people, giving them energy, and inspiring them to change tomorrow and shape the future, while showcasing major models of inspiring youth. The innovation and creativity area “Freedom” had many youth activities full of energy, enthusiasm, and variety, in addition to the World Youth Theater, which included amazing theatrical performances carrying purposeful and diverse messages, along with many young talents in all fields. This is alongside the presentations of the inspirational figures who narrated their experiences, which are considered a source of inspiration for many young people who follow them.

Then came the closing day and the ceremony held at the “Monument of Reviving Humanity,” a monument built by the hands of artists from around the world to express humanity, and inaugurated by His Excellency the President in 2018 in the second edition of the “World Youth Forum,” so that Egypt’s message in supporting humanity in the world continues. The ceremony’s title was astonishment in everything: parachute jumps, and drone aircraft shows that formed the forum’s logo and the forum’s message in spreading the values of peace and humanity across the world. The final word came from His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic, to turn the forum’s recommendations into presidential decisions to enter immediate implementation, including more youth empowerment and expanding support for youth from our Arab and African surroundings, and even providing support to the youth of the whole world.

Thus ended my journey with the fourth edition of the “World Youth Forum,” Sharm El-Sheikh 2022—a journey that was enjoyable, diverse, and full of excitement, pleasure, and passion, and of discovering up close what the state is doing as part of its accelerating steps toward the future—hoping to meet next year, God willing, if there is a share for participation, and if there is still life left.

Written by Dr. Hamada Al-Antabli.