Latest news with #youth empowerment
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, the Crown Prince of Fujairah, attends the closing ceremony of Fujairah's Young Techpreneurs
FUJAIRAH, UAE: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, attended the closing ceremony of the third and final phase of Fujairah's Young Techpreneurs. He emphasised the importance of empowering youth and young generations with technological tools and digital knowledge, viewing them as essential to realising Fujairah's future vision and promoting comprehensive and sustainable development. H.H. Sheikh Mohammed also attended the graduation ceremony of the students who participated in the final phase of the initiative, which was launched in April 2025. Fujairah Young Techpreneurs is an initiative organised and overseen by the Office of the Crown Prince of Fujairah, in collaboration with Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) H.E. Eng. Mohammed Hamza Al Qasim, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, was also present at the ceremony. Furthermore, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed also underlined the significant attention Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah, places on investing in people and empowering future generations, including both youth and children across various fields. He also emphasised the importance of preparing technically and intellectually qualified national talents capable of actively contributing to Fujairah's development journey and building the nation's future while advancing the pillars of its growth. H.H. Sheikh Mohammed praised the efforts of the students who participated in the Fujairah Young Techpreneurs initiative. He also commended their excellence, strong commitment to learning, engagement, and dedication to applying technical skills through practical projects, a significant step supporting Fujairah's digital transformation journey and meeting its knowledge-based requirements. An exhibition featuring several technology projects developed by students across five main topics: health, tourism, education, community, and the economic sector, was also organised alongside the closing ceremony. Participants demonstrated their skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, programming and entrepreneurship. H.H. Sheikh Mohammed also toured the exhibition held alongside the ceremony, where students presented the results of the initiative and their interactive applications. During the closing ceremony, H.E. Dr. Ahmed Hamdan Al Zeyoudi, Director of the Office of the Crown Prince of Fujairah, emphasised that the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, focuses on empowering youth and equipping young generations with the knowledge tools that contribute to creating positive change across all vital sectors of society. He also underlined the success of the initiative in preparing a promising generation capable of leading the future in line with its evolving demands and dynamics. For his part, H.E. Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), said: "Fujairah's Young Techpreneurs is a direct translation of the visionary guidance of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, aimed at empowering young minds and enhancing their digital competencies. It equips them with critical skills in artificial intelligence, programming, and cybersecurity. We are proud to actively contribute to the goals of this pioneering initiative through our strong collaboration with the Office of the Crown Prince of Fujairah, reflecting our shared strategic vision to empower the next generation through innovation and meaningful collaboration." He further said, "At HBMSU, we are committed to advancing a smart learning model built on creativity, critical thinking, and innovation, one that prepares learners for success in a rapidly evolving digital world. We remain keen to support bold educational initiatives that align learning outcomes with the needs of future industries and contribute to the broader development vision of the Emirate of Fujairah and the United Arab Emirates.' Fujairah's Young Techpreneurs was launched under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, as part of Fujairah's strategy to foster smart education, invest in young national talents and build a generation equipped with advanced technological skills to contribute actively to the future economy. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Dr. Ahmed Hamdan Al Zeyoudi, Director of the Office of the Crown Prince of Fujairah; H.E Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, (HBMSU); Amna Al Saleh, Acting Assistant Undersecretary of the Curriculum and Assessment Sector at the Ministry of Education; H.E. Tariq Al Hashmi, Assistant Undersecretary for the School Operations Sector; Dr. Fahad Al Saadi, Vice Chancellor for Learners Development at Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University; along with several officials and families of the students participating in the initiative.
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
DAE unit to launch aviation training programme in Jordan
Amideast-Jordan has announced the signing of an agreement with Jordan Aircraft Maintenance Company (Joramco), the engineering arm of Dubai Aerospace Industries (DAE), headquartered in Amman, Jordan. Under the deal, Amideast will provide comprehensive training to 60 young people, with a focus on enhancing their proficiency in the basics of English, and developing their interpersonal skills and digital knowledge. The training is supported by Boeing and is being carried out in close collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, reflecting the shared commitment of all stakeholders to supporting and empowering youth, said Amideast-Jordan in a statement. As part of the partnership, Joramco will play a pivotal role, dedicating its extensive professional and technical expertise in the field of maintenance, repair and refurbishment of commercial aircraft to support the aviation jobs programme by reviewing Amideast's training programs and organizing panel discussions that bring together industry experts and professionals. In addition, the company is committed to supporting the professional development of participants by helping them through the recruitment process, while committing tofacilitating and providing direct employment opportunities for graduates of the program within its team. The MoU was recently signed at Joramco's headquarters, by Amideast Country Director Noor Al-Rasheed and Joramco CEO Fraser Corrie. On the important partnership, Joramco CEO Fraser Currie said: "This partnership is a strategic step in our commitment to preparing the next generation of aviation professionals in Jordan. By uniting Amideast's efforts in youth empowerment and development, Joramco's deep expertise and real job opportunities, we are directly contributing to the growth and upgrading of the commercial aircraft maintenance, repair and refurbishment sector in the kingdom." In addition to its main objectives, the MoU paves the way for expanding the horizons of cooperation between Joramco and Amideast, allowing both parties to explore other areas of mutual interest, especially in CSR initiatives and comprehensive workforce development programmes. Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
African Development Bank Approves $17 Million to Rebuild Conflict-Affected Northern Mozambique
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank ( has approved a $17 million grant to support recovery and resilient-building efforts in conflict-affected northern Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province. The funding will support the Resilient Investment for Socio-Economic Empowerment, Peace, and Security (RISE-PS) Project, a bold new initiative to tackle the root causes of fragility through targeted economic empowerment. It will directly create 24,000 jobs, with 60% of opportunities earmarked for young people aged 18 to 35, and 50% reserved for women. Cumulatively, over 100,000 people are expected to benefit from the initiative. Since 2017, violent extremist attacks in Cabo Delgado have killed at least 4,500 people and displaced more than one million. Approximately 4,965 small businesses have been destroyed, leaving communities without livelihoods. Youth unemployment currently stands at 25% in the province, with 35% of young women neither employed nor enrolled in education or training. "This is about more than economic recovery – it's about giving young people a reason to believe in their future,' said Babatunde Omilola, Manager for Human Capital, Youth and Skill Development at the African Development Bank's Regional Office for Southern Africa. 'The project emphasizes youth as peacebuilding agents, unlocking their potential through skills development, entrepreneurship, and decent work opportunities to drive economic stabilization efforts.' A cornerstone of the RISE-PS project is the creation of a Peace and Security Investment Hub, coordinated by Mozambique's Northern Integrated Development Agency (ADIN). "This hub will coordinate development work across the region and create investment opportunities for both public and private partners," said Macmillan Anyanwu, the Bank's Acting Country Manager for Mozambique. "By including local communities in planning and implementing projects — such as letting them choose which infrastructure gets rebuilt — we ensure development truly serves those who need it most." Comprehensive Support for Vulnerable Populations Rehabilitation of 150 community facilities, including 30 schools, 45 youth centers, 14 health posts, 10 rural markets, and 33 water systems -- providing immediate employment for 4,500 vulnerable youth and women Training for over 9,200 individuals in market-oriented vocational skills, with 2,000 women and youth-led enterprises receiving grants to restart destroyed businesses, and 5,400 local micro-enterprises equipped to expand or consolidate operations. Construction of a climate-smart SME village in the Afungi Industrial Hub, designed to accommodate 100 small and medium enterprises with modern facilities, including warehouses, workshops, and business incubation centers Private sector partnerships, including TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil, to provide 1,055 youth with 6-month internships, targeting 70% permanent job placement The total value of the project stands at $28 million, including the African Development Bank's $17 million grant through its Transition Support Facility, $4.2 million from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), $2.4 million from Germany, $3.1 million in parallel financing from private sector partners, and $1.3 million counterpart contribution from the Government of Mozambique. MozParks, the national developer of sustainable economic zones, will lead the SME village construction, drawing on 23 years of experience that has attracted $4 billion in investments and created over 12,000 jobs nationwide. The project's conflict-sensitive design specifically targets the drivers of violent extremism. Research shows that 40% of young men join rebel movements due to a lack of economic opportunities. At the same time, women face additional vulnerabilities, including limited education and high rates of gender-based violence. Implementation begins on 1 September 2025, under the leadership of the Government, with UNDP as the implementing partner. The project will run until August 2029. ADIN will serve as the executing agency, with enhanced institutional support to strengthen its coordination role across northern Mozambique, which is home to 11.6 million people. Recent security improvements, and a reduction in the number of internally displaced persons from over one million to 635,000 present an opportunity for sustained development investments and renewed investor confidence. The RISE-PS project aligns with Mozambique's National Development Strategy (2025-2044) and the African Union's Agenda 2063, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 1 - No Poverty; SDG 4 - Quality Education; SDG 5 - Gender Equality; SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth). It also aligns with the African Development Bank's Strategy for Addressing Fragility and Building Resilience (2022-2026), the Bank's Country Strategy Paper 2023-2028 for Mozambique, its Ten-Year Strategy 2024-2033, and many other strategies or action plans on jobs, gender, skills, private sector development and nutrition. In particular, the Bank's Jobs for Youth in Africa strategy 2016-2025 aims to create 25 million jobs and positively impact 50 million African youth by 2025. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group is Africa's premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information:
Times of Oman
6 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Youth Centre signs agreements to support freelancing, professional photography
Muscat: The Youth Centre on Thursday signed two cooperation agreements with Oman Oil Marketing Company and Nikon, as part of its efforts to empower Omani youth and support their skills in various fields. Basil Ahmed Al Rowas, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth for Sports and Youth, signed the agreements on behalf of the Youth Centre. The first agreement, between the Youth Centre and Oman Oil Marketing Company, aims to implement the third edition of the "Tamakkun" freelance programme. This programme targets empowering 200 young men and women engaged in independent freelancing from September to December 2025, by providing them with the skills and tools necessary to transform their abilities into sustainable income sources. The second agreement, forged in partnership with Nikon, seeks to support young people in professional photography through advanced training programmes. It also includes equipping photography and sound studios at the Youth Centre, thereby contributing to the development of a creative and skilled environment for Omani youth.
Forbes
15-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Closing The Digital Skills Gap: How UNICEF And Partners Empower Youth
As digital technology rapidly transforms the workforce, a global digital skills gap is leaving many young people behind, especially girls and young women. UNICEF and committed private sector partners are equipping the next generation with essential digital, entrepreneurial and AI skills, empowering them to become innovators, leaders and changemakers. Anjali poses with the sewer cleaning robot protoype that she developed at the Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) at her school in Chhattisgarh, India. UNICEF, along with private sector partners, supports ATLs across India to foster a culture of learning, skilling and entrepreneurship. Why digital skills are essential for today's youth As digital technology reshapes work, too many adolescents and young people are falling behind. Globally, 65 percent of teens lack the digital skills needed for 90 percent of today's jobs, with the widest gaps in low- and middle-income countries and among girls. In many of these places, girls are 25 percent less likely than boys to access the knowledge needed for basic digital tasks. However, 86 percent of employers expect artificial intelligence (AI) and information processing technologies will transform their businesses by 2030. The theme of World Youth Skills Day 2025, 'Youth empowerment through AI and digital skills,' highlights the acute need for an inclusive, ethical and empowering future for all youth. UNICEF's role in youth digital workforce readiness UNICEF is a leader in digital skills programs that prepare young people to take part in a fast-changing economy and become the leaders their communities and the world need. This work is supported by strong private sector partners whose values, interests and corporate philanthropy aims align with UNICEF's goal to create a better world for every child. Private sector partners collaborate with UNICEF in many ways, supplying the knowledge, tools and finances that complement UNICEF's strengths and accelerate young people's path to economic security and opportunity. Trusted private sector partners allow UNICEF to plan long term and scale up programs more effectively. True collaboration and bold innovation can lead to powerful solutions, while UNICEF remains committed to promoting and upholding children's rights as AI policies and practices evolve. How public-private partnerships are transforming youth opportunities Public-private sector collaboration can scale programs from concepts to solutions and achieve greater impact at an accelerated pace than either sector can by working alone. Since 1999, fewer young people around the world have been working, even though the number of young people has grown. When youth are not working, studying or in training, their overall wellbeing suffers, diminishing their ability to contribute to future economic development and sociopolitical stability. To flip the script, more young people must be able to identify and access the skills to participate in a digital and green economy. UNICEF and SAP piloted an innovative, scalable workforce readiness program for marginalized youth in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa that supports learning to earning pathways. The program leverages Generation Unlimited's Youth Agency Marketplace (Yoma), a digital platform that connects young people with social impact tasks and learning to earning opportunities. Scaling digital learning with Yoma: a youth-led innovation The Yoma platform for youth was developed by young Africans seeking to address the stark reality that youth comprise 60 percent of all of Africa's jobless. Since 2022, the SAP and UNICEF partnership has reached over 815,000 and helped improve the lives of 250,000 more through engagement with foundational and digital skills for youth. Overall, thanks to SAP and other partners' support, Yoma has reached over 5 million engagements, which include registering more than 500,000 youth in over eight countries registered to access skilling, earning and impact opportunities through the Yoma ecosystem. Muhammad Abdullahi applies skills he learned from UNICEF Youth Agency Marketplace (Yoma) in Bauchi State, Nigeria, to his work as a health care innovator and employer. Yoma is a digital marketplace for youth to gain individualized learning and align opportunities with their aspirations. Muhammad Abdullahi, a health educator from Azare in Nigeria's Bauchi State, uses his Yoma-acquired skills to inspire change around him. Bauchi State has a high number of children who are out of school. "Growing up in a community like Azare gave me a sense that we need to call on our young people to change the narrative of how our people survive here,' he says. Muhammed used the money he earned scavenging plastic waste to pay for his university tuition. "I was afraid to graduate from university because I may not get a job, but after utilizing opportunities from Yoma, I am a proud health innovator and employer now.' How Skills4Girls builds confidence, STEM access and leadership Investment in girls' education and skills-building forges a critical pathway to dignified work and economic security. About 1 billion girls and women worldwide lack the skills to keep up in today's job market. For teenagers between 15 and 19, twice as many girls (1 in 4) are not working, learning or training compared to boys (1 in 10). With support from several private sector partners, UNICEF's Skills4Girls is closing the gap between the education girls traditionally receive and the digital skills to thrive in today's economy. The Skills4Girls develops girls' skills in STEM, digital technologies and social entrepreneurship areas and bolsters life skills like problem-solving, communication, teamwork and self-confidence. For example, thanks to Sylvamo'spartnership with UNICEF, Skills4Girls expanded its work in countries like Bolivia and Brazil to give girls greater access to STEM education and leadership training, unlocking their individual potential and yielding greater societal benefits. With more than 640 million adolescent girls living on the planet today, programs like Skills4Girls play a crucial role in supporting their growth and potential. Mary Luz, 15, of La Paz, Bolivia, created an award-winning robotic boat to collect trash from rivers and lakes. In Bolivia, only 24 percent of students in STEM are women. A UNICEF Skills4Girls program is teaching Bolivian girls to design and build robot prototypes. In Bolivia, only 24 percent of students in technological and scientific careers are women. Skills4Girls is working to improve that reality and build a better future by teaching Bolivian girls to design and build robot prototypes. 15-year-old Mary Luz from La Paz, Bolivia, dreamed of seeing nearby Lake Titicaca clean – free from pollution and plastic waste. Driven by that vision, she created a prototype robotic boat that collects trash from rivers and lakes. Mary's invention is equipped with weather sensors, a live camera and an anemometer to measure wind speed. With support from UNICEF, her creativity and determination led her to represent Bolivia at the world's largest robotics tournament. Grassroots innovation, generational power Partnerships are a means to an end, not the end itself. Each UNICEF and private sector initiative is a dynamic collaboration to lead young people somewhere better than where they started. And when young people are actively involved in crafting solutions, that goal is often reached faster. Crocs, Inc., one of UNICEF's newest skills partners, has committed to a 3-year partnership to support UNICEF's UPSHIFT, a social accelerator that prepares young people between 10 and 24 to become community changemakers and innovators. UPSHIFT aligns with Crocs, Inc.'s Step Up To Greatness program values and goals to support building skills and confidence in young people to unlock their potential. UPSHIFT equips youth with professional and transferable skills through experiential learning. Participants identify challenges in their communities and devise local, innovative solutions to address them. For example, in Ukraine, where approximately 1.5 million children are at risk of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, UPSHIFT has equipped young people to take action to address issues they care about the most. One solution is Teenage Island – created by teens for teens – on the social platform Discord. Teenage Island provides a safe virtual space for young people to connect over shared struggles. 'You can get away from unwanted reality. For us, that is the war,' says Oleksii, 22, a Teenage Island member. ofia, 17, hosts a podcast on Teenage Island, a teen-led virtual space offering connection and psychological support to young Ukrainians. UNICEF UPSHIFT participants identify challenges in their communities and devise local, innovative solutions. On Teenage Island, adolescents and young people can talk to a psychologist in group sessions, explore creative writing or dive into fantasy role-playing adventures. The team also launched a podcast series in which Sofia, a 17-year-old Ukrainian, openly discusses grief, mental health and war with a psychologist. Teenage Island exemplifies how partner funding doesn't just support immediate needs but can strengthen systems and services for sustainable progress long after UNICEF's interventions end. Partnering for a brighter future UNICEF's public-private sector partnerships for youth can bring the tech, experience and talent, and critical investment needed to supercharge skills development. Together, UNICEF and partners create scalable, forward-thinking solutions that fast-track young people's access to opportunity and build a brighter future for the next generation. Learn more about UNICEF's private sector partnerships that help bridge the digital divide and support every child's right to learn. UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, organization, product or service.
