Youth are the cornerstone of any nation’s development plan and their active contribution is not only necessary but also integral to the development process. Sharjah has adopted clear policies and strategic plans to empower its youth and develop their capabilities.

Sharjah Youth (SY), an affiliate of Rubu‘ Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators, is one of the emirate’s successful initiatives to empower its young people in various fields, providing a stimulating environment that enables them to embrace their energies and invest in their talents.

Its 8 centres in different parts of the emirate focus on identifying and shaping the talents of young people aged 13-18 years.

The youth organisation’s efforts have resulted in several artistic, scientific and sporting achievements that will be lauded at the ‘Manarat Watan’ event on November 26 and 27, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Rubu’ Qarn Foundation.

Remarkable success

The entity has also been remarkably successful at other local as well as international competitions, with 11 of its members winning the Sheikh Sultan Award for Celebrating the Spirit of Youth. SY’s members also won the Community Award at the VEX Robotics World Championship in the United States.

Wasit Youth Centre team secured three awards in a series of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics competitions, including the VEX Robotics Competition where it won in the ‘EDR’ category as well as Skills Award, which qualified the team to represent the UAE at the world championship held in the USA.

Kalba Youth Centre team won the Build Award in the VEX-IQ Competition. Members also won two gold medals at the Emirates National Skills Competition, securing gold, silver and bronze medals in the electric wiring category, and a gold medal in the IT Software Solution category.

Members also came in the second place at the Think Science Fair and Competition 2019 for its ‘Automated Warning Triangle’ project (Emergency Warning Triangle).

Life skills

Abdul Rahman Al Kamali, 16, is a participant in the ‘Automated Warning Triangle’ project and winner of the second place in the Think Science Fair. Speaking about his experience, the member of Wasit Youth Centre said: “During my two years at Sharjah Youth, I gained many skills that have helped me achieve a position in the robotics industry and win many championships at the local and international levels. My ambition is to achieve something that will add to UAE’s leadership in this field.”

He added: “Being a member of Sharjah Youth has helped me develop many life skills such as teamwork and perseverance in the pursuit of success. Most importantly, it has taught me to think creatively in everything I do.”

Artistic and academic achievements

SY members also made inroads into the artistic domain, excelling in performing arts, theatre and literature. One Sharjah Youth member won the best promising actor award at Sharjah’s Theatre Days, while 18 of its members won top positions in the 8^th edition of the Clubs Culture and Arts Competition in the general information and theatre categories.

Fifteen members participated in the Arab Theatre Festival in Cairo as part of a training programme designed especially for Sharjah Youth to help them acquire theatre skills as well as to hone their public speaking skills.

SY members also shone in the academic field, with four members winning the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance in the outstanding student category.

On the global level, SY’s members participated in the UN Youth Meeting in the USA to hone their skills in finding innovative solutions to global problems. A 40-member team also took part in the Middle East Film and Comic Con as part of the ‘Art of Manga’ programme.

Sporting achievements

Sharjah Youth did not lag in the field of sports either. Three SY members joined the UAE under-18 rugby team, while three others made the UAE Taekwondo team. SY members’ expertise in futsal football saw 17 members being picked up by prestigious clubs such as Al Hamriya, Kalba, Khorfakkan and Dibba Al Hisn.

Eight SY members attended a badminton training camp in Malaysia, organised by the organisation in collaboration with the UAE Table Tennis and Badminton Association.

‘An enriching experience’

Mohammed Saeed Al Mazroui, a SY member, spoke highly of the entity’s efforts and how it had impacted the members. Al Mazroui, 17, said: “Ever since I joined SY five years ago, I have found myself on the path of innovation and success in science and technology. It has been a rich experience that has taught me leadership skills and enabled me to learn among many other things, programming, design, public speaking techniques and etiquette.”

Al Mazroui added: “For me, Sharjah Youth provided the link to the external world, and it was the beginning of my journey to achieve my ambitions in various fields. I was a UN ambassador twice at the World Youth Forum. I also clinched the title of the world’s youngest trainer at the World Robot Olympiad Costa Rica, and broke the record twice in the junior and secondary category in the Robot Olympiad. I was also chosen the Vice-Chairperson of the Sharjah Youth Shura Council at its seventh session.”

“Now, I am studying at the College of Medicine at the University of Sharjah, and I look forward to specialising in neurology. This was possible because of what I have learned at Sharjah Youth,” Al Mazroui concluded.

Accomplishments in 2018

In 2018, SY managed to add to its portfolio of achievements, most notably securing the first place in the VEX Robotics Competition UAE National Championship in Abu Dhabi. SY also won the exemplary team award in the World VEX Championship in the USA, while finishing second in the National Robotics Competition that qualified the team to participate in the World Robot Olympiad that was held in Thailand.

SY won the first place in the short film category and finished second in the general information category at the Clubs Race for Culture and Art. An 11-member team participated in the Tunis International Festival for School Theatre, while 10 SY members performed at the Al Din Al Araby Theatre Festival in Muscat, Oman.

SY members also made waves at the international level, participating in the United Nations Ambassadors Programme (NYC Junior Ambassadors) in New York.

SY also launched the first edition of Al Furjan Theater in 2018, in which 60 participants representing 14 teams took part. A 21-member SY team participated in the ‘Hayakum’ programme, which was organised in collaboration with the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority.