Dana Barakat Represents Bahrain and LAU at the Youth Democracy Forum in Rome

Dana Barakat, a MEPI Tomorrow’s Leaders Undergraduate student from Bahrain majoring in Political Science and International Affairs, was recently selected to participate as a fully funded delegate at the Youth Democracy Forum 2026 in Rome, Italy. She represented both Bahrain and LAU at a forum that brought together participants from more than 20 nationalities.

The Forum took place from October 1 to 4, 2026, bringing together young people from around the world to discuss democracy, leadership, international cooperation, and youth participation. Dana participated in workshops and interactive discussions, exchanging ideas with young people coming from different cultural and political backgrounds. These discussions helped her gain new perspectives on the challenges that communities face.

One of the highlights of her experience was delivering a speech in front of an international audience. This allowed her to share her perspective as a young Bahraini student studying international affairs, and strengthened her confidence in expressing her ideas in a global setting.

Reflecting on her experience in Rome, she shared, “I realized that young people do not have to wait until they become established professionals to contribute to important discussions.” She also added saying, “We can share our perspectives, learn from one another, and take an active role in shaping the future.”

Dana also had the chance to visit the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome. This visit helped her to connect what she studies in the classroom with the work of international organizations, specifically in areas such as food security, sustainable development, and international cooperation.

For Dana, this was an exciting opportunity to live a global experience, and it strengthened her interest in diplomacy, public policy, and international affairs, and she used this opportunity to build connections with young people from around the world.

As a MEPI Tomorrow’s Leaders scholar, Dana gained valuable exposure to the international community and had the opportunity to put her leadership skills into practice. She hopes to use the knowledge and experience she gained in Rome to contribute to her community and inspire other young people.