The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al‑Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al‑Azhar, affirms that empowering young people and engaging them as active partners in the educational process represents one of the essential pathways to building aware, cohesive societies capable of fostering the values of peace, coexistence, and mutual respect.
In a statement issued on the occasion of the International Day of Education, observed annually on 24 January and celebrated this year under the theme “The Power of Youth in Co-creating Education,” the Council emphasized that education is a humanistic and ethical project aimed at building the individual, developing awareness, and refining capacities for critical thinking, dialogue, and responsibility. From this perspective, involving youth in designing educational visions, developing curricula, and formulating educational policies is a fundamental step toward ensuring more inclusive education that is responsive to societal realities and contemporary challenges.
The Muslim Council of Elders underscored the importance of harnessing the vast intellectual and creative energies of young people, noting that affording them the space to express themselves and participate actively helps transform education into a platform for instilling values, promoting a culture of positive difference, and reinforcing the principles of human fraternity.
In line with its mission to promote a culture of peace and counter extremist ideology and hate speech, the Council places special emphasis on educational and intellectual initiatives targeting youth. These initiatives seek to empower young people intellectually and ethically, preparing them to become effective contributors to their communities and to engage positively with society in a spirit of responsibility and wisdom.
The Council concluded by affirming that investing in education rooted in values, participation, and dialogue is an investment in the future of humanity as a whole, stressing that empowering youth to participate in shaping education is a pivotal step toward building a more just, understanding, and peaceful world.