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Y4S Voices

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FSL 2023

Tamara Stojkovic, Aspiring Policy Leader

Testimonials

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Being selected as a Sustainability Ambassador has been incredibly fulfilling and thought-provoking. From dedicated mentors guiding us through various aspects of sustainable thinking to finding new friends and networking with like-minded students, I've experienced profound personal growth. This program has accelerated my involvement in innovative sustainable developments, providing numerous opportunities to gain insights and engage with experts in the field.

Helen Maria Biju

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Y4S has broadened my knowledge and significantly impacted my role as a UN youth delegate. The program gave me the confidence to represent youth in global forums, advocate for meaningful change, and shape the future we envision. The support I received empowered me to lead with confidence and champion the causes I believe in, making this experience pivotal in my journey as a sustainability leader

Abdullah Alsuwaidi

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SkillUp’s self-paced and gamified approach made learning both engaging and impactful. The comprehensive units on social skills, entrepreneurial mindset, and sustainability were particularly valuable, helping me develop the skills needed to lead in a rapidly changing world. This platform has been a crucial part of my journey toward becoming a future sustainability leader.

Abdulrahman Alattas

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Participating in the Code4Climate Hackathon was an amazing and insightful experience. I learned so much about innovative solutions for climate change and how technology can drive sustainability. The event was both inspiring and extremely helpful in expanding my understanding of these critical issues.

Alanood Alblooshi

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I have been deeply inspired by the initiative's commitment to empowering the next generation of sustainability leaders. Through a blended learning experience with global business leaders, policymakers, and technology pioneers, we are equipped with the latest sustainability best practices. The program's comprehensive approach, combining core knowledge, skills training, mentorship, and networking opportunities, has been invaluable.

Amna Al Hammadi

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The Code4Climate hackathon has been one of my favorites so far. I had the opportunity to meet new people, which encouraged me to engage in meaningful conversations. I was able to share my skills and learn more about coding and sustainability. Overall, I enjoyed the process of designing and presenting my ideas alongside my friend and partner, Alanood. If given the chance to participate again, I would absolutely jump at it!

Aryam Al Kaabi

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I4C presented us with an intriguing challenge: a single task with a shared deadline, tackled by over five teams composed of individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. In the end, each team came up with a totally unique and innovative solution, all working toward the same goal. Today, I believe that the I4C challenge is the reason behind my broadened perspective—there are multiple approaches to solving a problem.

Ashley Kamau

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Through completing the various modules on the platform, I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge and found inspiration to finally pursue some business ideas I’ve been dreaming about for a long time. The modules are perfectly timed, offering just the right depth to dive into each topic while keeping the motivation high.

Ellie Hutterli

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My experience with the Y4S SkillUp App is incredible. It helped me grasp information faster and the interactive activities helped me understand each and every topic and unit. It added value to my time and knowledge. And overall, it taught me to use my time wisely

Fatima Alshamsi

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My experience with the Y4S program is beyond amazing! I was able to meet and connect with many like-minded youths who inspired me and my fellow ambassadors, not to mention that we deeply understood the true meaning of sustainability and its interconnection with many aspects in our lives. Joining Y4S Sustainability Ambassador’s program showed me the actual value of teamwork, dedication, commitment, and diligence.

Ghaya Alahbabi

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The Y4S program helped me deepen my understanding of sustainability and empowered me to take meaningful action for a more sustainable future.

Hazza Alnofli

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I was truly honored to be one of the 10 finalists at the Hackathon. Working on an app that can make a real difference in people's lives was an amazing experience. Code4Climate taught me so much about teamwork, problem-solving, and how technology can create real change. It was challenging, inspiring, and something I’ll never forget. I’m especially grateful to the Youth 4 Sustainability team for supporting Saif and me throughout the competition—your encouragement meant the world to us.

Kareem Ibrahim

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Reflecting on my journey with the Y4S program as a member of the 2023 cohort, it's been nothing short of transformative. The program exposed me to remarkable events like COP28, meetings with the German embassy and the UAE, and visits to places like Masdar City, leaving a lasting impact on my commitment to sustainability. From a regular high schooler, I've evolved into a contributor/author and columnist, currently ranked in the top 70 on the author list of prominent European sustainability newsletters. Y4S not only provided unique opportunities but also developed my skills in pitching, cognitive abilities, and networking, playing a crucial role in my growth and achievements. I’m grateful for the incredible journey and the chance to contribute meaningfully to the discourse on sustainability!

Khalid Mohammed Alblooshi

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The I4C challenge was one of the best experiences during Y4S. From forming the groups to the execution at COP28, the I4C challenge has brought out both our leadership and teamwork skills. For me, it has shown me how youth from all over the world have a similar goal: to live to our fullest potential whilst living sustainably. I4C is a great challenge to push young people to be both creative and realistic in providing solutions to tackle climate change.

Maryam Al Moosawi

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Joining the Youth 4 Sustainability platform was a fantastic experience. It offered me practical insights and allowed me to meet and collaborate with others who are equally enthusiastic about driving positive change.

Mohammed Bawazir

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Participating in the I4C challenge was a transformative experience. Leading a diverse team in their free time to propose and structure a tech-based solution to combat climate change was both challenging and rewarding. The opportunity to pitch our idea at COP28 and win was incredible, allowing us to share our vision with global experts and enthusiasts. I encourage anyone passionate about climate action to engage in this challenge—it’s a unique platform to turn innovative ideas into impactful solutions.

Nicolas Mauricio Cuadrado Avila

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The Innovate 4 Climate challenge was a truly unique experience for me, marking my first steps into entrepreneurship. As the team leader of Terra, a group of young innovators tackling the shortage of EV charging stations in the UAE, I felt we had everything we needed to succeed from the knowledge gained through the Y4S app to numerous sessions with our mentors. As one of the finalist teams, we had the incredible opportunity to pitch our project at COP28 in the Masdar Pavilion, an experience unlike any other. If you get the chance to participate in Innovate 4 Climate, remember it's not just another task, it's an excellent opportunity to create something impactful for our planet!

Tamara Stojkovic

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The Y4S program was instrumental in shaping my journey to launching my sustainable startup Yello. It provided invaluable insights into sustainability and connected me with like-minded individuals, helping me grow both personally and professionally.

Zein Altawil

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The Y4S Future Sustainability Leaders program was a transformative milestone in my climate-advocacy journey, shaping me into what I now define as a sustainable diplomat. Through its comprehensive educational content and access to leading experts in energy and technical fields, I developed innovative proposals to address critical challenges such as water desalination, waste management, and water scarcity in conflict areas. Representing youth as part of Masdar at high-level platforms like COP29 in Baku allowed me to amplify youth perspectives and advocate for actionable solutions on a global scale. Y4S provided me with the skills, knowledge, and networks to merge my passion for political economy and sustainability, enabling me to approach climate challenges from a holistic and solutions-driven perspective as a sustainable diplomat.

Reem Al Mansoori

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I’m incredibly grateful to have attended Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week at the beginning of my Youth 4 Sustainability journey. The experience provided me with so many exciting opportunities to engage with global leaders and innovators in sustainability. One of the most memorable moments was having the opportunity to participate in a discussion with the Governor of Alaska, where we explored critical topics related to sustainability and climate action. This experience has further fueled my passion for sustainability and my commitment to making a positive impact.

Sara El Oneis

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Participating in the Future Sustainability Leader program with Y4S has been a truly transformative experience. The SkillUp sessions were a highlight, where I had the opportunity to collaborate with a team to create and pitch real-world applications on sustainability. These sessions not only enhanced my leadership, communication, and innovation skills but also deepened my understanding of emotional intelligence, empathy in business, and conflict resolution. I worked with an incredible team of five Future Sustainability Leaders to develop "Blue Quest," an AI-driven decision-making platform for reverse osmosis desalination plants. Our solution tackled pressing issues like greenhouse gas emissions, water quality, and ecosystem disruption. Presenting our project at the Y4S Forum during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week was an unforgettable experience and a proud milestone in my sustainability journey.

Opeyemi Ajala

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Having been a Sustainability Ambassador in the Y4S 2024 cohort was an enriching experience, and it further deepened my interest in sustainability. It is a program that provided me with lots of valuable experiences, such as networking with like-minded peers, being involved in hands-on projects, and learning real-world insights from practitioners. From interactive workshops to project-based impact, Y4S has provided me with the skill and confidence to be able to create an impact toward a sustainable future. This experience has really cemented my interest in sustainability and further encouraged me to become active within my community and beyond.

Kareem Ibrahim

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Attending the Y4S Forum during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2025 was an incredible experience, allowing me to connect with like-minded individuals and gain valuable insights from leading entities on sustainability through engaging sessions and lectures. A true highlight was participating in an exclusive discussion with high-level delegates, where we exchanged views and explored the strategic plans set to combat climate change and advance sustainable practices nationally and globally.

Yousef Alfardan