A group of Emirati youth are participating in WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 through their duties to help organise the event, representing a unique Emirati vision of promoting the culture of volunteering among the nation’s youth, as a major cornerstone of building and developing the nation.

In their statements to the Emirates News Agency, WAM, the youth participating in WorldSkills 2017 stated that the culture of volunteering is a particular Emirati approach while stressing that hosting such a prominent international event reflects the world’s confidence in the UAE and its capacity to host major international events.

Maktoum Al Nuaimi, a student of aviation engineering at the Higher Colleges of Technology, HCT, said that he applied to volunteer in the international event to meet with officials from local and international institutions, and exchange views with them about their vision of the future labour market.

Student Saif Mohammed Al Abdouly expressed his pride at the UAE’s hosting of the event and stated that his participation as a volunteer reflects the UAE’s way of promoting the culture of volunteering among its youth.

Student Khawla Mohammed stressed that she volunteered in the WorldSkills competition, as head of a group of volunteers, because of the importance of the event, which involves 70 countries.

Khalifa Abdulnour Al Zarony said that his passion for volunteer work makes him keen to participate in various events, especially important national events, while adding that he is proud that the nation is hosting such a key international competition and the youth’s participation will enable them to acquire many skills and interact with people from various cultures and nationalities while acquiring leadership and teamwork skills.

Student Noura Al Zaabi said that the participation of Emirati youth as volunteers in the WorldSkills competition will give them the opportunity to learn about the latest developments in professional skills.

Dr. Abdullatif Al Shamsi, Director of the HCT, stated that the HCT provided the event with 200 volunteers while adding that they have benefitted from their participation through being introduced to key global professional skills, which are in line with their practical studies at the HCT.

He said that making volunteer work a requirement in the graduation of HCT students will promote their presence at the various national events and will provide them with the opportunity to acquire skills and learn new cultures, as well highlight the HCT’s honourable and leading stature.

Volunteer work has become a part of the lives of students, and many of them are passionate about volunteering and it is not only about achieving the required 100 volunteering hours to graduate, Dr. Al Shamsi added.