Experiences of Emirati students to be showcased in documentary

ABU DHABI — UAE Youth Ambassadors, a documentary that captures the experiences of Emirati students as they travel abroad to discover different cultures and spread knowledge of the UAE, will air on TV tomorrow.

Image Nation Abu Dhabi, the producer of the documentary, said on Thursday that the film follows a group of 52 Emiratis, enrolled in the UAE Youth Ambassador Programme, as they travel through South Korea, China and Germany.

The boys and girls are students from various UAE universities.

“The programme offered me a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent my country and build relationships with people I wouldn’t have normally had the chance to meet,” said Abdulla Abdulrahman Al Hashemi, an Emirati student from Zayed University, who travelled to South Korea.

From language barrier to unfamiliar food, Abdullah and his colleagues had plenty of challenges during their travels, but plenty of rewards too as he got to experience life in the Far Eastern country.

“Now that my journey, as well as that of my peers, is documented on film, I look forward to reliving the experience again,” he added.

The UAE Youth Ambassador programme began in 2012, aiming to strengthen links between cultures and offering Emirati youth new avenues of leadership, enhancing their understanding of bilateral relations between the UAE and partnering countries.

UAE Youth Ambassadors captures the students’ experiences over three weeks in a 45-minute documentary. The participants’ trips include language training, government study tours, industry tours and insights into local customs and cultures.

“The production mirrors the personal journeys and steep periods of growth these students go through under the UAE’s leadership. Image Nation is committed to not only growing Emirati talent through its various film programmes, but it is also committed to creating original content for the region,” said Michael Garin, CEO of Image Nation.