Princess Sumaya attends IYAF panel on SDGs, celebrating RSS’ 50th anniversary

AMMAN — HRH Princess Sumaya, president of the Royal Scientific Society (RSS), on Tuesday attended a session at Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the youth’s role in achieving them.

The International Youth Ambassadors Foundation (IYAF), who organised the session in collaboration with the RSS, also signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Humanitas Technologies and the RSS, according to a statement sent to The Jordan Times.

Addressing the attendees, the princess called upon enterprises and members of the public, private and non-governmental sectors to support the youth in their efforts to drive society forward.

“We must all call upon government entities, businesses, universities and NGOs to become facilitators and supporters for our youth to take action and make our world a better place”, she said.

Princess Sumaya also highlighted the role of the IYAF, valuing the foundation’s commitment to motivating and driving change “for a better tomorrow”.

IYAF President Trad Al Masri delivered the session’s opening statement, underscoring the importance of raising awareness and encouraging inter-sectoral collaboration.

“We, as an organisation, are striving today to raise awareness and help achieve the long-term goals of sustainable development,” he said.

The event coincided with the RSS’ 50th anniversary, the statement explained.

The princess referred to the society’s “Science for Society” initiative, designed to strengthen the link between science and people and expand the space for thought, research and experimentation.

A number of experts and youth from different fields took part in a panel discussion, which aimed to find sustainable, collaborative ways to collectively achieve the SDGs and empower youth to affect change and peace.

Adviser to the President of the RSS for Science Policy and Programme Development Ruba Zu’bi spoke on the efforts underway to achieve the society’s SDG objectives.

Partnerships between the private and public sectors, in accordance to SDG 17, she explained, could support and empower youth and the civil society to lead change through social entrepreneurship.

Minister of ICT Muthana Gharaibeh also attended the session.

At the close of the session, the IYAF announced new partnerships to support Jordanian initiatives and start-ups related to the SDGs.

These partnerships were sealed by the signing of the MoUs, witnessed by HRH Princess Sumaya.