Mentors wanted to inspire Emirati youth

DUBAI // A new mentoring programme will link young Emiratis with leaders in the private sector to provide career advice and inspiration.

The Emirates Foundation for Youth Development launched the programme on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi with an event that included more than 100 Emiratis.

"The spirit of young people being inspired by their mentors was fantastic," said Khuloud Al Nuwais, chief sustainability officer at the foundation.

The initiative targets Emiratis aged 18 to 35 and matches them with seasoned role models.

"The mentoring programme basically aims to encourage and motivate Emirati youth to learn from senior mentors who are passionate and excited about sharing their successful professional experiences," Ms Al Nuwais said. "It's also really mostly focused around sharing experiences from the private sector, because we want to be able to inspire young people about joining the private sector."

The programme includes a half-day seminar where mentors share their stories, a full-day practical workshop and a five-day work experience at the mentor's workplace. "Then the mentors follow the participant's career path for four months via a blog, where they are available to answer questions and assist with career development," Ms Al Nuwais said.

The relationship can continue with phone calls, blogging or emails.

The programme is starting in Abu Dhabi but will expand to other emirates.

Mentorship underpins all of the foundation's efforts, Ms Al Nuwais said. Their Think Science initiative, which encourages young Emiratis to study science and technology, has a mentorship element, as does their Takatof volunteer initiative.

But this particular programme is part of an initiative called Kafa'at, which aims to develop Emirati talent in the private sector.

So far the foundation has about 30 mentors.

"We look for mentors who have received awards, who are in senior positions in private sector companies, who have a good track record of achievement and who are at the same time inspiring speakers," Ms Al Nuwais said.

So many young people showed up on Tuesday that organisers ran out of chairs, Ms Al Nuwais said, who volunteered to be one of the first mentors. To recruit youth, the foundation is doing a "road show" at local universities.