“The students also loved their pins
and were able to identify them as the
Expo 2020 logo after the session.”
The Youth Connect school roadshows
have already reached more than
40,000 students from 140 schools in all
seven emirates, with many more visits
planned.
Exclusive behind-the-scenes
tours of history in the making
Youth Connect is also welcoming
schools to the Expo 2020 site even
before the doors open in 2020.
Nearly 1,000 students from 31 schools
and universities from all over the UAE
so far have been treated to exclusive,
behind-the-scenes bus tours of the
Expo 2020 site, followed by thought-
provoking, hands-on workshops on
innovation and themes of Expo 2020
Sarah Rafiullah, a senior associate
in the Youth Connect team, says
she relishes seeing the increased
excitement of students after their tour
of the 4.38 sqkm site.
“It is really intriguing to hear such
thoughtful questions from young
students regarding the legacy of the
Expo, or the stages of construction, or
even the logistics across the massive
site. It just goes to show they are
really thinking beyond the physical
site,” Sarah says. “They are taking the
learning to the next level.”
Jack McGuiness from Abu Sa’eed
Al Koudery School in Hatta, Dubai,
shared how the Expo field trip helped
take the student-led project to the
next level.
“Our school is a long way from
the Expo 2020 site, and up here in
the mountains, it sometimes feels
like we’re in a completely different
country. So things like Expo 2020,
where our students can relate to the
rest of the UAE, are really important
in giving them a sense of belonging,”
McGuinness says.
“The Expo field trip gave our students
an inspiring platform to appreciate the
UAE heritage and the vision of the late
Sheikh Zayed, and how this ties in with
the future through Expo 2020.
“Ever since the trip, our students
have not stopped talking about Expo
2020 and it became a natural real-life
extension to our class. For example,
during the subject life skills, when
students had to learn to write CVs, they
researched jobs at Expo 2020 and that
got them very excited and engaged.”
Practical, hands-on lesson
ideas, resources and workshops
for the leader of leaders
Amin Tejpar is one of three educators
who have joined Youth Connect to
support in developing programmes
that empower teachers with the
knowledge to bring learning to life
through Expo 2020.
“Teachers and educators will play a
critical role in ensuring that Expo 2020
leaves a lasting social legacy,” Tejpar
tells TMEM.
“We are striving to help students and
youth take full advantage of this once-
in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Youth
Connect
host
teacher
workshops to provide educators
with an opportunity to make subject-
specific connections to the Expo
2020 theme and subthemes and offer
resources that are differentiated to
cater for students of all ages – from
primary all the way to high school.
Youth Connect has reached more
than 2,700 teachers and principals so
far, through workshops at Ministry of
Education, KHDA a nd ADEK events.
But there are bigger ambitions.
“We are working with teachers, who
each have unique skills and expertise
and are volunteering their time, to
create hands-on, easy-to-use teaching
resources that focus on the Expo 2020
theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating
the Future’ (i.e. collaboration) and
subthemes: Opportunity, Mobility and
Sustainability,” Tejpar says.
The resources enable students to
become familiar with the multiple
topics within each theme.
“When they come to Expo 2020 for one
of our tailor-made school journeys, the
students will be ready to take in much
more knowledge and learning,” Tejpar
says.
Cecelia Rustoff, a teacher at Al
Hosoon School in Al Ain, recently
participated in an Expo 2020 teachers’
workshop.
“The session has put everything into
perspective: I now understand why the
Expo 2020 is taking place,” she says.
“I’m also able to make a link between
Expo 2020 and what I can do in the
classroom. I am excited about it and
am really looking forward to inspiring
my students to be part of this amazing
initiative.”
Sneak peek into the future at
Expo 2020
Before TMEM leaves the Expo 2020
site, Al-Ali lets us in on a secret: “We
have been working very hard on a
special project just for schools. A new
building next to where we are standing
now is currently being transformed into
a unique, experiential learning space
that will welcome school groups from
the new academic year in September.
“It will be the first official step inside
this exciting place and we can’t wait to
tell teachers and educators all about it
– not to mention seeing the students’
smiles come September!”
To connect with the Youth Connect team,
email [email protected] To find out more
information, visit www.expo2020dubai.
com/en/Expo-Youth/Youth-Connect
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May - Jun 2018
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