São Paulo – Young Saudi and Brazilian university students met this Monday (27th) at the Polytechnic School at the University of São Paulo (USP), to discuss the problem of slums (favelas, in Portuguese) in their countries. The meeting is part of the programme of the Saudi-Brazilian Youth Forum, which will continue until the 5th of July. During the event, the Arab students were presented socioeconomic figures on the Brazilian population living in slums, and were able to compare the situation with that of the Gulf country.
They watched a talk given by the director of Urban Planning at the Polytechnic School, Alex Abiko, who discussed, among other topics, a project of the school at the Favela of Paraisópolis, in the capital of São Paulo, which will be visited by the Saudis this Tuesday.
Many foreigners come for the Hajj and end up staying in the country,” said the Saudi Sara Almaeena, aged 23. “These people bring their families, and we cannot prevent them from coming, but the challenge resides in how do deal with them,” said the young woman, who holds a degree in marketing and is engaged in social movements.
She believes that the involvement of the youth is crucial in order to solve the issue of irregular housing. “I believe that the youths must be more active, they must contribute to improve society,” she said. The Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, which receives millions of Muslims from the world over.
“The situation is not easy, neither for the government nor for the people involved,” claimed Rana Aldeghaither, a 22-year old journalism student. “We also have safety issues, you cannot walk alone at night in the poorer areas. I find it important to educate people before removing them from the slums,” she finished off.
“Perhaps 90% of the people living in slums are not Saudis,” said Alaa Al Hashim, a 23-year old Finance student, regarding the issue in his country. “They [the foreigners] are given a visa for the Hajj only, but end up heading for the vicinities of the city,” she explained. “Many are not professionally trained, and we need to send them back to their countries.”
The 13 youths participating in the programme were chosen by the Saudi educational institutions, among students in courses such as Marketing, Architecture, Medicine, among others. Brazil is the second country to become part of the forum’s programme, which is promoted by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Relations. The first trip was to China.
“Brazil is becoming increasingly important to Saudi Arabia,” said Jawaher Alsudayri, advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Arab country. “Historically, in Brazil, most Arab descendants are from Lebanese families, few are from the Gulf. But the relationship that was not built in the past is being built now, through economic relations between Brazil and countries such as Saudi Arabia,” said Jawaher of the choice of the country as the target of the students’ visit.
Also on this Monday, the delegation, headed by the Saudi deputy minister for Economic and Cultural Affairs, Yousef Al Saadon, also visited the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, where it was welcomed by the president of the organization, Salim Taufic Schahin, its CEO, Michel Alaby, and the vice-president of International Relations, Helmi Nasser.
“We want our youths to get to know other cultures. They are the leaders of the future,” said Al Saadon. “We came here so that they may meet Brazilian youths, and so that Brazilian youths may meet them.”
“We need the youth to exchange ideas,” said Schahin. “Conversation between the youths will bring us a better future. We need to bring bright ideas by young people to the world,” he claimed.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
