UAE youth told to believe in themselves and commit to achieve career success

UAE, Abu Dhabi, January 29, 2013 - Passion, commitment and active community work are the key to achieving successful, fulfilling careers, participants at an Emirati Youth Forum in Abu Dhabi have been told.

Speaking at the event, which preceded the Emiratisaton Summit 2013, Emirates Foundation for Youth Development's Chief Sustainability Officer, Khuloud Al Nuwais, shared the benefits of her 15 years' experience in the private and philanthropic sectors, and highlighted the importance of active contribution to the community.

"Learn the small tasks and then grow into the bigger ones This will enrich your experience and give you confidence in eventually "achieving anything."," Al Nuwais noted, adding, "If you aspire to a great future, you have to equip yourself with the right skills and competences and more importantly excelling at what you do stems directly from your level of commitment and dedication".

Al Nuwais, who holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a major in Advertising Management and Marketing, was named among the 'Top 20 Most Influential Women in the UAE' by the Abu Dhabi-based, English-language newspaper, The National in 2008. She played a pivotal role in setting up the Emirates Foundation in 2005; is a former Board Member of the Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council that spearheads the government's efforts in building a sustainable Emirati workforce; and is credited with creating up the Emirati youth programme, Tawteen, now known as "Kafa'at", empowering young Emiratis to pursue career paths in the private sector.

Her many side projects include the restructuring of the 'Children without Parental Care Organisation' (Dar Zayed for Family Care).

Al Nuwais told more than 100 forum attendees that Emirati youth must invest in themselves so they can become globally competitive! "Work hard, prove yourself and opportunities will come your way" As a working mother she also highlighted that we "We are privileged to have our leaderships support particularly to encourage and support women to purse their careers across different industries," she noted. "As the late Sheikh Zayed said Emiratis are the wealth of the nation. And hence the emirates foundations belief in engaging, inspiring and guiding young people of the UAE to secure the nation's sustainable future.

She concluded her presentation saying: "You have to believe in your capabilities and qualifications and work hardly to enhance your skills. I am a firm believer that if you want something bad enough you will get it."

Previous to her current role with the Emirates Foundation, Al Nuwais was a Senior Analyst in the Corporate Planning Department of Dolphin Energy Ltd, the company supplying gas from Qatar to the UAE. She has also served as a Market Analyst at the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).

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About the Emirates Foundation for Youth Development
Emirates Foundation (EF) was launched in April 2005 as an initiative from His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

In 2012, Emirates Foundation was re-launched under the name "Emirates Foundation for Youth Development" as an integrated national initiative that seeks to invest in UAE youth. EF's strategy uses the model of venture philanthropy to develop nationwide programs that aim to impact the lives of UAE youth positively and permanently in a manner that is measurable and sustainable.

The Foundation works in three key areas: social inclusion - looking at some of the challenges facing young people; community engagement - encouraging youth to participate in a voluntary capacity in the civil society; and leadership and empowerment - helping to build young people's 'soft skills and prepare them for the work place.

EF seeks to identify, educate and inform the public about some of the challenges facing UAE youth while identifying opportunities for growth and development for young people themselves. We develop sustainable, enterprise-based solutions to social issues that help motivate and guide young Emiratis through programs that help them understand the value of giving back to society while developing their capabilities, confidence and leadership skills.

Emirates Foundation works in partnership with both the private and public sectors and aims to create a strong culture of giving among the business sector. It is funded through financial contributions from both the government and the private sector.

For more information, please contact Doha Al Hamad, Senior Coordinator for Organization Communications, Emirates Foundation for Youth Development.

Telephone: +971 50 8258408 or +971 2 4042813 Email: dalhamad@emiratesfoundation.ae