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WHAT IS Y4S?

Since the UAE’s birth, its leadership has prioritized investment in young people and deeply valued their role in education and environmental stewardship.

With its focus on learning and sustainability, Y4S embodies these values.

Established in 2016, Y4S aims to reach one million young people by 2030 through a blended learning experience. It also aims to create awareness of the skills needed for future jobs in sustainability. Y4S does this via its Future Sustainability Leaders and Sustainability Ambassadors programs, and global outreach activities

Supported by Principal Partner Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, Y4S is aligned with the UAE’s Principles of the 50 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).

HH sheikh Khaled bin Zayed al Nahyan, Y4S, khaled bin Zayed al Nahyan, COP28
WHY IS IT NEEDED?

By 2030, the green economy could create 24 million new jobs. While this massive green job creation presents huge opportunities for governments, businesses, and members of industry, it will also be a major period of transition requiring new skills and ways of thinking.

Today's youth will be an integral part of this transition as they drive the world’s sustainability agenda. Y4S was established to equip young people around the world with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities to tackle climate change.

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Y4S Impact To Date

+535,000

youth connected with via outreach on social media

+41,000

young people engaged and participated with Y4S online and in-person activities

280+

students trained to volunteer during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

+1,400

Sustainability Ambassadors and Future Sustainability Leaders attended conferences organized by Y4S

740+

graduates from the Sustainability Ambassadors and Future Sustainability Leaders programs

190+

hours of mentoring given to young people on problem-solving, design thinking, entrepreneurship, and coding

100+

workshops and training sessions organized

60+

sustainability solutions devised through the Ecothon Innovation program

Learn more about y4s

Y4S Sustainability Programs

Future Sustainability Leaders (FSL) Program

The Future Sustainability Leaders (FSL) is a year-long program that connects university students and young professionals with global business leaders, policymakers, and technology pioneers, to help them learn the latest sustainability best practices. The program provides core knowledge, skills training, genuine work experience and networking skills through events that take place over a 12-month period. Each cycle begins at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), the region’s largest sustainability gathering, held each January in Abu Dhabi.

Through this unique programme, students learn about the future outlook of the sustainability agenda, and better understand how to positively contribute to the implementation of global sustainable development goals.

REGISTRATION CLOSED

If you require any further information, please email y4s@masdar.ae

Sustainability Ambassadors Program

The Sustainability Ambassadors (SA) is a year-long program designed for high school students to become Sustainability Ambassadors by offering them core knowledge & skills training, authentic work experience, and quality networking at major events during the academic year.

Through this unique program, students play an active role in Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) and engage in a year-round program to learn about the future outlook of the sustainability agenda, and better understand how to positively contribute to the implementation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development goals (SDGs).

The SA program accepts 50 new students in every cohort.

REGISTRATION CLOSED

If you require any further information, please email y4s@masdar.ae

Y4S Programs

The forum’s purpose is to inspire youth-led discussions about sustainability and empowerment. It welcomes government leaders, industry leaders, young innovators and social entrepreneurs. The forum attracts more than 3,000 speakers and attendees during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

Responsibilities

  • Commit to the year-long program and activities, spending time in the following way:
    • 36% Skillup online learning
    • 17% Virtual Series attendance and participation
    • 17% attendance of events and forums (such as Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week etc.)
    • 30% to Innovation Lab participation (through Ecothon Innovation Challenge)
  • Promote the FSL program through your social network (when applicable)
  • An ability to coordinate, manage tasks and work under pressure.
Learn More

Launched to give students the chance to sharpen their innovative and entrepreneurial skills through hands-on experiences, the Innovation Lab consists of two competitions for young people. These include the Ecothon Innovation challenge, which asks competitors to create environmentally friendly inventions, and the Hackathon series, which allows students to explore ways to use artificial intelligence to advance sustainability and other topics.

Learn More

Y4S Industry Trends Series

This series of virtual workshops and sessions offers students the chance to learn from experts about key industry trends. Topics of focus include UNSDGs, the energy transition, the impact of single-use plastic, and social entrepreneurship.

Learn More

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