UAE: 144 students graduate from NYU Abu Dhabi’s youth skills development program – News

Students learn technical and soft skills through weekly workshops

A total of 144 students from 21 countries and 37 public and private schools graduated, successfully completing the Youth Leadership Network of NYU Abu Dhabi’s (NYUAD) community outreach organization.

The program is designed to help highly motivated students acquire the technical and soft skills to engage, grow and lead through weekly workshops.

This year’s program includes five workshops. The network included 36 NYU student mentors who worked in small groups of 160 school-age participants.

This year, the focus is on cultural preservation. The seminar started on October 30th and ended on November 26th.

Sheikha Alyazia Bint Nahyan, Arab Cultural Ambassador of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), Qasr Al Hosn and Sheikh Mubarak bin Nahyan and Ayisha Khansaheb, Curator and Program Leader of the Historic Site, join NYU Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann in congratulating graduating students

“The active participation of youth in culture is one of the main objectives of our Arab Cultural Ambassadors. Attending the final presentation, it was evident that the participants were creative in their contributions and problem-solving abilities. Forge lasting connections between participating cultural venues and NYU professionals for many years to come,” said Sheikha Alyazia Bint Nahyan.

“The project is modeled on the popular Girls and Boys Educational Networking program designed by NYU students in 2014 and 2016 respectively. As of 2020, the project has involved more than 800 middle and high school youth, and more than 200 New York University students act as counselors,” says Mariët Westermann.

The participating students were tasked with developing innovative solutions to increase interest in cultural heritage, using the country’s historic fort Qasr Al Hosn as a case study.

The Youth Leadership Network operates in a peer-to-peer workshop format, addressing practices such as self-awareness, critical thinking, habit building, teamwork and project learning. NYUAD students serve as mentors, creating an inclusive, supportive space that fosters dialogue and growth, helping to enhance confidence and self-esteem.