A training course on Youth, Cultural Diplomacy, and Leadership Development began 3 September, 2026, at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah.
The course was organised by the OIC General Secretariat and is chaired by the Ministry of Sports of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which holds the presidency of the Islamic Conference of Youth and Sports Ministers (ICYSM). The event coincided with OIC Youth Day, which the OIC celebrates annually on September 3.
The Secretary-General of the OIC, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, affirmed that youth currently constitute more than 28% of the population of OIC member states, noting that this percentage is expected to reach 30.7% by 2030. The speech, delivered on his behalf by the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian, Cultural, and Social Affairs, Ambassador Tariq Ali Bakheet, stated that Youth Cultural Diplomacy is not an intellectual luxury but rather a practical tool for developing young people’s capacity to build bridges, promote dialogue, counter misguided ideologies and violent extremism, and disseminate the values of tolerance and moderation.
The speech further explained that among the most important objectives of the training programme are training and enhancing the capabilities of young people in cultural diplomacy and leadership development, providing them with an opportunity to discuss issues related to youth empowerment, and familiarising them with the OIC’s efforts in this field.