Among those identified were: career guidance, women
in the workplace, leadership, and work experience.
“Bridge to Success” was an initiative that arose
from these findings. A summer programme was
developed with a view to fostering skills valued in
the workplace. Weekend camps are also a feature of
the work Tawteen carries out. Camps are for females
and males and cover everything from leadership and
entrepreneurial skills to career guidance. Sponsored
by Aldar Properties, these camps are aimed at
assisting the youth of all seven of the UAE’s Emirates;
Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah, Dubai,
Umm Al Quwain and Abu Dhabi.
The Emirates Foundation also collaborates with
Universities and Higher Colleges of Technology
in order to highlight to young people the benefits
of higher education. Pursuing Masters and PhD
programmes is something that very few Emiratis have
undertaken to date. Initiatives include government
grants for PhD programmes.
Whilst Tawteen endeavours to work with the cultural
norms of the UAE, it also strives to work with parents
and young people alike to change some views and
perceptions about certain job types. For instance,
working in a hotel is not seen as an acceptable career
choice for a young female. The Tawteen Programme
works in collaboration with parents to change these
perceptions.
The imminent completion of Saadiyat Island for
example, will result in many hospitality industry job
openings, so Tawteen wishes to showcase that there
are many good career opportunities for young female
Emiratis in this sector.
Many international private sector companies sponsor
the work that Tawteen does, including; Shell,
Dolphin Energy, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank,
Rolls-Royce, BP, Mubadala, DLA Piper, ADCO,
Aldar, GEMS Education, the British Council, Al
Yashat and the Abu Dhabi Petroleum Institute.
When CEO Financial asked Ms Al Nuwais why
such big companies choose to sponsor Tawteen, she
replied,
“I think it is to fulfil their sense of corporate social
responsibility. Despite being international companies
they are all based here in the UAE. Sponsoring us
enables them to understand more about employing
young Emiratis. It also gives them access to a pool
of young talented people as many of our work
placement programmes have resulted in offers of
employment”.
Ms Al Nuwais, a mother of three children, occupies
one of the most senior positions at the Emirates
Foundation. She studied advertising and marketing
at Portland State University in the United States of
America and returned home to Abu Dhabi to begin
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