Students from the AUS Student leadership Program took part in the "Investing in The Future: Building the Resilience of Women and Girls in the Arab Region" conference held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The event was held from October 19-20 at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Center, Sharjah.

The regional conference was hosted by the United Nation Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), in partnership with The Big Heart foundation and focused on community engagement and civic leadership through various inspirational lectures and workshops. This year's theme focused on advocacy for Arab women and the girl child by building their capacity and increasing the opportunities available to them.

"The conference was such a great experience and we got to meet a lot of great personalities, including Nobel Peace Prize winners Malala Yousufzai and Kailash Satyarthi," said Rahsi Shafana, a junior majoring in economics. "There were many sessions that discussed various topics like the role of women in peace building, in economic development, their rights in Islam, and many more. It was very beneficial for us as we got to meet different people from organizations like UNHRC, UNDP and WHO, and interact with them," she added.

"The conference was an eye opening experience that broadened my horizons. It is an excellent initiative and very necessary. The theme of the conference, education and gender is a very pressing matter in today's world. Addressing it on such a multidimensional diverse platform helps bring multiple areas of focus, issues and concerns regarding education and gender in the 21st century. The conference was very well coordinated and planned. The guest speakers were highly influential and accomplished individuals," said Hanan Arab, an AUS senior majoring in international studies.

"The conference was an excellent platform to discuss pressing issues facing women and children in the world. Students were inspired and learned how to overcome obstacles and the importance of their role in contributing to the region's economic and social development. We are looking forward to participating in this conference's next edition in 2017 and encourage more students to attend," said Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Dean of Students.