On December 28, 2024, the local youth forum under the theme "Partners in Building" was launched in Marib, northeastern Yemen. The event is organized by the National Youth Conference with support from the National Democratic Institute and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The three-day forum brings together youth leaders from seven provinces: Marib, Sana'a, Dhamar, Al-Jawf, Amran, Al-Mahwit, Hajjah, and Saada. Its goal is to foster collective contributions, gather youth perspectives, and develop actionable solutions to address various national issues, ultimately paving the way for a promising future.

During the opening ceremony, Ali Al-Khatib, Deputy Governor of Al-Mahwit, expressed his appreciation for the outcomes of the first phase of this conference, hoping that the results from this forum will significantly enhance previous efforts, with the national youth ideas making an impact across all levels.

Ezzedine Al-Omari, Deputy General Coordinator of the National Youth Conference, emphasized that this forum is a continuation of previous meetings held in Mukalla, Aden, and Taiz, aimed at empowering youth to influence political and social events, and advocating for their inclusion in decision-making processes.

In his speech, Al-Omari highlighted the crucial role of youth in development and construction, viewing this meeting as an ideal opportunity to listen to their concerns, ambitions, and ideas, which are foundational for building a bright future.

The opening ceremony included various speeches reiterating the need to mobilize all youth energies and efforts, shaping their opinions and visions into actionable outcomes that will guide Yemen towards a future where youth play a central role in development.

Organizers presented an overview of the National Youth Conference and the results of previous introductory meetings, alongside discussions on communication skills, negotiation, and dialogue techniques.

According to the organizers, this local forum is part of the second phase in preparation for the National Youth Conference, which will address public issues, including political participation, economic empowerment, job creation, education, capacity building, and developing a coordination mechanism for implementing conference outcomes.

The opening ceremony was attended by several officials, including Fadl Al-Harbi, Deputy Governor of Dhamar, Abbas Abdulghani, Director General of Social Affairs in the Capital, Hassan Mubarak, Director General of the Youth and Sports Office in Al-Jawf, and others.