- The Foundation’s Annual Report (2021) shows huge impact across 21 countries, with more than 18,000 beneficiaries supported
- Last year, 4 new programs and NOMU were launched, 13 multi-sector partnerships created, and 188 scholarship recipients graduated
- Report highlights new solutions and partnerships, empowering and upskilling young people
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 08 September 2022: The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education have published its Annual Report highlighting the considerable success and growth achieved last year.
According to the report, the Foundation, one of the largest philanthropic education initiatives in the Arab region, expanded its reach to work in 21 countries in the Arab region, impacting the lives of 18,000 beneficiaries, 12% of whom are Emiratis and 88% are Arab youth from across the region. Additionally, 13 new multi-sector partnerships were created, and 188 scholarship recipients graduated.
Significant steps were made by the Foundation to bring in innovative solutions to address challenges facing Emirati and Arab youth. This included increasing the network of private and public sector partners, offering hands-on private sector experience, and improving access to online learning programs to make them more accessible to Emirati and Arab youth.
The newly released report showed the impact of four new programs, and NOMU, a multi-sector youth development initiative that provides Emirati youth with high-quality training opportunities, aiming to empower 25,000 young people by 2025.
Ambitions for 2025 include supporting 50,000 Emirati and Arab youth become ready for Higher Education, entrepreneurship, professional careers, and future-proof work for the sustainable development of the nation, region and globe. .
New strategic partnerships were also agreed, such as the American University of Beirut launching the Abdulla Al Ghurair Hub for Digital Teaching and Learning last year, to strengthen the education systems that break down barriers to Higher Education. Moreover, the Foundation expanded its work through the University Consortium for Quality Online Learning (UCQOL), collaborating between the UAE Ministry of Education and nine of the UAE’s top universities, to facilitate the development of high-quality online programs for Emirati and Arab students.
To mark the launch of last year’s Annual Report, a media event was held this week at the Swissotel Al Murooj, with the CEO Dr Sonia Ben Jaafar presenting some of the Foundation’s key achievements and to look ahead to new goals.
Dr Sonia Ben Jaafar, CEO of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education said:
“We’re proud of the Foundation’s success to date, expanding our reach, and supporting thousands more students across dozens of countries. . The Foundation is here to serve the community and last year’s Annual Report showed the deeper, broader, and more lasting positive impact the Foundation is having, helping improve the education and talent ecosystems to increase collaborations and authentic partnerships. It is vital that Emirati and Arab youth receive high-quality education opportunities that lead to elevated livelihoods, and enable them to compete, succeed and achieve their goals as we work towards a sustainable future”
The Foundation also released its Impact Report detailing the impact it has made since its inception in 2015.
Other successful collaborations last year included working with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) to organize the Arab region’s first MIT Innovation Leadership Bootcamp with 120 participants, 76% of whom were Emiratis.
The report also includes the Al Ghurair Young Thinkers’ Program (YTP), which was awarded the Gold Prize at the 2021 Reimagine Education Awards.
In addition to university preparation and career readiness resources, the YTP offers youth a digital platform that provides them with transferable skills. Additionally, the foundation implemented a pilot program in collaboration with Virtual Internships to offer virtual work placements locally and internationally through mentor coaching.
About The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education
The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education aims to empower Emirati and Arab youth to thrive and contribute to the sustainable development of the region, through innovative education solutions and authentic partnerships. As one of the largest privately funded philanthropic foundations in the Arab region, AGFE supports the provision of high-quality technology-based education opportunities, as well as the development of relevant skills for a successful transition into higher education and the labor market. Founded in 2015, the Foundation is dedicated to the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 8, calling for inclusive and equitable quality education that leads to improved standards of living for all
