Young Emiratis share their ideas at second UNDP workshop

Aysha Al Kaabi, Ali Saloom and Dr Jayashree Payyazhi.

Participants at the Social Innovations Camp that was held at the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) recently had the opportunity to present an overview of their projects to a review panel at a workshop held at the University.
As part of their Youth Leadership Programme II (YLP), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) organised the camp for young Emiratis to impart skills to design and implement projects that address youth-oriented social challenges that could make a difference across the UAE.
After delivering their presentations, the review panel consisting of Aysha Al Kaabi - Programme Analyst, UNDP, Dr Jayashree Payyazhi - Associate Dean of the Faculty of Business at UOWD and Ali Al Saloom, a well-known media personality and public speaker, provided the participants with constructive recommendations to help them improve on the work they have done thus far.
Ali Saloom said: "It is great to see the amount of initiative they have put into their projects. We have seen some amazing ideas and I wish them all the best in taking it forward."
"Providing our youth with social innovation tools, will help improve their skills to develop innovative ideas which could make a difference in their communities," commented Aysha Al Kaabi.
One more workshop will be hosted in which finalists representing the UAE will be selected to participate in a regional event in October, where up to five participants will be selected as YLP II "Change Makers". Finalists from GCC countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain are likely to participate in the event.
Dr Jayashree Payyazhi said: "Some of the ideas presented here by the young innovators have been excellent and it was wonderful to see the enthusiasm and commitment among the young cohort."
UNDP has presence in more than 170 countries and territories and addresses a range of critical development issues such as poverty, inequality and climate change, to name a few.