Masdar’s Y4S platform seeks to engage 50,000 youth by 2030
The Youth 4 Sustainability initiative aims to equip high-school and university students with the skills, expertise and tools they need to advance their knowledge and pursue careers in the sustainability sector
Since its establishment, the UAE has made pioneering efforts to empower and nurture youth, to support the development of society and the economy, and to safeguard the nation’s future. In line with this vision and recognising the importance of developing the next generation of sustainability leaders, Masdar launched its Youth 4 Sustainability plaform this year.
The Y4S plaform includes a series of programmes aimed at supporting students and young entrepreneurs, including the Sustainability Ambassadors for high-school pupils, and Future Sustainability Leaders, designed for university students. The plaform aims to directly engage 50,000 young people across the world by 2030.
Y4S is also one of a number of entities supporting the Covhack Virtual Innovation Challenge. Running under the theme ‘Circular Economy for Food,’ the challenge aims to discover innovative ways of building resilience in local and global food supply chains in a post COVID-19 world.
Launched under the patronage of Sheikh Khalid Bin Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, the plaform prepares young people to become future leaders ready to pursue careers in the sustainability industry, combining tailored workshops and real-world experience to equip them with the skills needed to excel in the sector.
“The goal of the Y4S plaform is to prepare a generation of conscientious, educated, and knowledgeable young people, qualified to lead the sustainability agenda and help the UAE to achieve its sustainable development goals”, says Zainab Al Ali, Senior Manager, Outreach and Stakeholder Relations, Masdar.
The Sustainability Ambassadors programme provides high schoolers with the education, skills and training needed to prepare them for future careers in the sector, through real-world experience and a series of events held throughout the academic year.
VIEWS OF Y4S participants: “I have always wanted to reach out to people like me who share my interest in sustainability issues, and meet experts and industry leaders who are harnessing innovation to drive the sustainability agenda, and that’s what
I found through the Future Sustainability Leaders programme, which is a fantastic plaform for sharing experiences, ideas and perceptions about advancing sustainable development and building the future.” – Hamdan Mohamed Karmustaji
“The Y4S plaform enables youth to develop innovative ideas on the importance and growth of the sustainability sector globally. Furthermore, the programme enhances our awareness and prepares us as future leaders to make conscious decisions on conserving our planet’s resources to build green economies. The opportunity to discuss relevant sustainability issues with a diverse selection of international thought leaders is a life-changing experience.” – Simarna Singh
“By participating in the Sustainability Ambassadors Programme, I have had the opportunity to participate in specialised workshops and activities to develop not only my knowledge of sustainability, but also leadership and teamwork, as well as equipping me with the skills I need to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.” – Mansour Anis
“The Future Leaders for Sustainability Programme has provided me with a rich learning experience that has also helped me to develop as a person, equipping me to play an active role in shaping the future of my country.” – Shama Ibrahim Ghafan Alali
“My participation in the “Skills for the Future 2030” report prepared by the Y4splaform gave me the opportunity to learn about key skills that young people will need in the next 10 years, to adapt to accelerating change in the labour market. It is also good that training programmes have continued even under these exceptional circumstances through remote communication techniques; this pandemic has accelerated the transition to adopt these methods and techniques in learning.” – Alice Ahmad
“The activities provided through the Y4S platform have contributed greatly to raising awareness among all participants as to how to play an active role in implementing the sustainability agenda, and have helped us gain a deeper understanding of how to contribute positively in implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.” – Wei Hao Loh