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Young people encouraged to combine forces to fight global poverty
4 June 2008
Development Minister calls for young people to join together in the fight against global poverty
Shahid
Malik has urged 1,000 young people from a wide range of faiths and backgrounds
to work together to help combat poverty in developing countries.
During his keynote speech at Liverpool’s Big Hope Global Youth Congress (4-11 June), he encouraged the young delegates from more than 45 countries to discuss and consider individual and collective responsibility for the future of the world. He called on these faith leaders of the future to combine forces and encourage others, irrespective of faith, background and political persuasion to confront the huge challenges that will face the world they will inherit.
Mr Malik said:
"This is a unique opportunity for the young leaders from every faith, every background and every political persuasion to join together in confronting the huge challenges that will face the world they inherit. Whether it be the fight against global poverty, fairer trade for poorer countries, or the spectre of climate change, this is a wonderful, creative environment for considering individual and collective responsibility for the future of our planet."
Liverpool’s Big Hope World Youth Congress, which shares many of the same
priorities as DFID, aims to bring together young people from a wide range of
faiths to discuss issues such as international development, law and human
rights, business, the environment and sustainable development, education and
culture.
The delegates are focusing on the much needed inter-connection between personal integrity and public life and considering the question of how to develop a humane global society and the role of individuals to help make this possible.
As a major sponsor, DFID welcomes the opportunity to support Liverpool Big Hope. Other DFID speakers discussed:
- The importance of economic growth and trade as the way out of poverty
- The threat of climate change to sustainable development
- The problem that fragile states have in sustaining development
- The reform of international and national institutions