UNICEF appoints seven new Youth Advocates for climate change in the United Arab Emirates
The appointment was announced at a celebration event in March 2023 in Dubai Expo
UNICEF appointed seven Youth Advocates from the United Arab Emirates. These inspiring young leaders will join the three Youth Advocates from the United Arab Emirates appointed by UNICEF on the occasion of World Children’s Day in 2022.
The appointment was announced at a celebration event in March 2023, held in Dubai Expo by the UAE’s Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood to celebrate Emirati Children's Day. The appointment comes also as the UAE prepares to host COP28 in November 2023.
The seven new Youth Advocates are all between 13 and 24 years old, acting as positive role models for their peers, with strong communication skills and passion for environment and climate action.
Abdul Muqeet, 22, environmentalist and participated in World Future Energy Summit 2013 as a speaker, and in Tunza International Children and Youth Conference on the Environment in Indonesia in 2011. In 2011 he won “Abu Dhabi Award” alongside other world-changing personalities for contributing positively to society by spreading awareness and making a change on the issue of plastic bags. In 2013 won the “Princess Diana Award” for inspiring the youth to take action on sustainability and to show them that they have a voice to raise on any topic.
Ahmed Salem Al Mutawa, 22, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechatronics and Robotics Systems Engineering and a Diploma in Artificial Intelligence, his thesis was to create technologies and knowledge in the field of energy, transportation and environment. He is currently Ambassador for the UAE Award for Artificial Intelligence. Ahmed is the youngest founder of a smart museum that tells the memories of the UAE.
Ghaya Saad Al Ahbabi, 13, is an environmental activist on social media platforms and a leader of the Green Shoots environmental team. She is also a winner of the Environment Award of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood. She goes by “Green Girl” as a nickname for her passion in climate and environment.
Mariam Hassan Al Ghafri, 16, is a member of the Friends of the Environment Association. Among her several achievements is winning first place in the Innovation Award for the Environment at the level of the Arab world in 2021, and being one of the winners of the Environment Award for Children at the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood in the category of technical and scientific projects. She created a project “Echo of the Environment City” which she is looking forward to present in COP28.
Saeed Ahmed Al Remaithi , 23, has a great passion in the field of agriculture. He developed his own productions with special touches that could distinguish him from others in the labor market. Saeed also was able to choose varieties of vegetables appealing to UAE society, and he imported them from several countries.
Sofia Faghihy, 17, a passionate for climate action and a leader in environmental protection in her school. She is the UAE's International Ambassador for Artificial Intelligence and a member of the UAE National Debate Team. Among her most notable achievements are winning first place in the International Mathematical Olympiad 2021 and the International Electronic Olympiad 2022, and winning the Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Award for Excellence in 2022. She published her first non-fiction science book "Space Exploration: The New Renaissance".
Yousef Abdullah Al Balushi, 16, is passionate for the environment to preserve the marine environment through trips in which he accompanies his father in the Dubai Volunteer Diving Team. He started practicing scuba diving from the age of 13. Yousef was honored as the youngest diver to clean the beaches and ports of the Emirate of Um Al Quwain and honored in multiple events for his volunteer participation efforts in environmental protection events.
These young advocates have potential to benefit their society socially, politically and economically and act as champions for the issues that impact them, and as influencers and agents of change to advance children’s rights and the matters they care about.
