Dubai: Success stories of 100 influential Emirati men and women will reach thousands of Emirati youth in the country, with the launch of an initiative of the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs, ‘100 Mentors’.
The programme, which aims to bring together 100 inspiring Emirati figures and experts to empower Emirati youth and mould their experiences and skills in different fields, was launched on Monday at Dubai Men’s College – Higher Colleges of Technology, where a number of college students listened to the first mentor of the programme speak about the importance of being an active part of the UAE’s success story.
In an interactive dialogue session, Noora Mohammad Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, shared tips and advice from her successful career and reflected on her experience in her field of work.
Shamma Suhail Faris Al Mazroui, Minister of State for Youth, inaugurated the programme and joined Al Kaabi in a Q&A session focused on how youth can enhance their creativity.
“The goal of the initiative is to develop our youth’s skills and inspire them in the careers they pursue through their direct communication with experts in different fields, said Al Mazroui. “Today’s session focused on enhancing one’s creativity. Our goal is to build a generation of heroes in various fields and sectors.”
She said the idea of the programme came from an Emirati youth, who suggested a platform be created to help other youth be in direct contact with leaders in different fields and learn from them. “We are reaching out to the youth in places where they are gathered and giving them the advice they want to hear. Today we are at a college, for the next 99 mentors, we will be moving to other places.”
During the session, Al Kaabi’s message to the youth was that creativity has no limits in any sector or field, and that a small contribution can lead to a bigger one. She also advised them to read more books and articles related to their field of study and watch influential videos from TED Talk, which invites experts to spread ideas and fuel creative thinking.
“You should always be around people who will inspire your creativity and motivate you to innovate,” she told an audience of young men and women at the start of the session. “Think collectively and not individually as a team leader. With every step comes challenges, but you need to be confident. You also need to be open to other ideas from the people around you and who you work with.”
Following the event, dozens of students approached Al Kaabi to ask for career advice and how they can move forward with projects they have already completed in their field of study.
“With 100 mentors sharing their experiences, it will help the youth shape the future of the UAE and have clear thoughts on how they can contribute to their nation. Our leadership is very confident in the capabilities of our youth and are open to hear their suggestions and help them overcome challenges they face on the way. This is the way we can reach our goals,” she said following the event.
The programme is being held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince.
