Fifteen Arab delegates from around the Middle East were among the 600 young leaders attending the Annual United Nations Youth Assembly (UNYA) as part of the PepsiCo Arab Youth delegation to discuss the world’s progress towards the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
PepsiCo’s youth delegation participated in the three-day conference at UN headquarters in New York City. The delegation included youth leaders from Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Palestine, and the United Arab Emirates in an effort to empower and allow them to build their leadership skills and to raise their awareness of world issues.
“PepsiCo is committed to empower youth by providing them with new experiences and learning opportunities” said Saad Abdul-Latif, CEO of PepsiCo Asia, Middle East, Africa. “Bringing together some of the brightest Arab youth leaders to the UN Youth Assembly allowed them to interact with other young people from all over the world and with experts in international development to find solutions for pertinent sustainable development issues facing our region and the world.”
PepsiCo chose individuals to participate in the UNYA based on their demonstrated passion for driving the UN MDGs and championing humanitarian causes, as well as other charitable contributions to in their communities. Those not attending were invited to experience the event by following the discussion on Twitter and other social media channels. The PepsiCo Arab Youth Delegation took part in a variety of workshops as well as a panel discussion at the UNYA under the theme of “Arab Youth and Social Media.”
Leading up to the UNYA, the PepsiCo delegates took part in a three-day course on youth leadership and the MDGs at Fairleigh Dickinson University. They also visited PepsiCo global headquarters in Purchase, N.Y. to learn about the company’s work in sustainability from top leaders within the field.
In addition to sponsoring delegates, PepsiCo is also making changes within its business and collaborating with governments, businesses and nongovernmental organizations around the globe to help achieve the UN MDGs. PepsiCo has made a series of commitments to address hunger, health and environmental sustainability, all of which are aligned with its Performance with Purpose strategy to drive the long-term growth and success of the company.
