Youth Spaces

Idea:

The Youth Spaces Initiative is a strategic initiative developed by the Federal Youth Authority to accredit and enhance youth-friendly spaces across the UAE.

The initiative directly supports the “Quality of Life” strategic direction of the National Youth Agenda 2031, ensuring that youth across all emirates have access to essential services that enhance their personal and professional development.

Objectives:

Youth Spaces is a newly developed concept introduced to address the lack of youth hubs across the UAE. The Federal Youth Authority (FYA) is actively engaging with potential partners and collaborative entities interested in dedicating a youth space within their existing premises.

The main objectives of Youth Spaces are:

1. Supports young people in acquiring future-ready skills, leadership opportunities, and professional growth.
2. Encourages collaboration between government, private sector, and third-sector entities to create youth-friendly engagement hubs.
3. Empowers young people by providing safe, inclusive, and high-quality environments where they can learn, collaborate, innovate, and lead.
4. – Establish a national accreditation system for youth engagement spaces.
5. Ensure high-quality facilities and services that align with UAE’s youth vision.
6. Recognize accredited spaces with an official Federal Youth Authority accreditation mark.

Duration of the Initiative:

November 2024 – Current (on-going)

Positive Impact:

1. National Recognition of the accredited youth spaces all around the UAE.
2. Inclusion in the UAE National Directory – (a one directory that will list the locations of the youth spaces in the UAE map).
3. Visibility & Credibility – Awareness among the youth around the Youth Spaces that can be utilized/used around their area.
4. Continuous Improvement – Accredited spaces evolve spaces with changing youth needs.

 

Implementation Steps:

Project Study and Planning Phase 1: Preparation Phase:

1.1- Conducting a comprehensive survey of the proposed spaces for the initiative activation by preparing a list of youth spaces located in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

1.2- Provide a list of proposed spaces for initiative activation in each emirate by the youth hubs team.

1.3- Holding a series of meetings with the Abu Dhabi Youth Council and the leadership of the Federal Youth Authority to review the general framework implemented by the team & council, with the aim of unifying efforts between the Authority and the Council.

1.4- Preparing the action and financial plan for the project.

1.5- Holding a series of meetings with the graphic designer to develop the visual identity of the initiative and obtain approval from senior leadership.

1.6- Studying and developing the strategic plan for the initiative.

1.7- Preparing a comprehensive internal guide for the Youth Spaces initiative (including manuals and guidelines, regulations, activation mechanism, standards, services, roles and responsibilities, etc.).

1.8- Drafting a list of terms and conditions specific to the activation of Youth Spaces and defining roles and responsibilities with the collaborating entity/partner.

1.9- Conducting several site visits to the potential spaces for project implementation to assess their compliance with youth space accreditation standards.

 

Partners Engagement and Space Accreditation Phase 2: Designing Phase:

2.1- Determining the type of agreement with the entity/partner (e.g., Memorandum of Understanding, formal contracts), preparing the document, and obtaining approval from senior leadership.

2.2- Preparing and approving the entities’ registration online form to join the initiative.

2.3- Sharing the project’s guiding manual with strategic partners and collaborating entities and introducing them to the initiative.

2.4- Preparing the media and promotional plan for the project launch in collaboration with consulting media agency.

2.5- Launching the initiative. (Open call via social media platform and invite the organizations and entities to register by posting the Launching Official Video).

2.6- Receiving and reviewing applications to join the initiative and accrediting the entities awarded the Youth Space Accreditation Mark.

 

Project Launch and Media Campaign Phase 3: Implementation Phase (Cont.):

3.1- Prepare the Youth Space Communication strategy.

3.2- Designing and preparing the “Youth Space” accreditation mark.

3.3- Organizing a youth space accreditation event for the first youth space (Madar 39) in the capital, Abu Dhabi.

3.4- Developing a design of the national directory of the accredited youth spaces across the UAE and the services they provide.

3.5- Announcing the first group of accredited youth spaces across various regions of the UAE and unveiling the project expansion plan (to be announced soon).

 

Post-Initiative Phase:

Requesting from entities to submit the Evaluation Reports each quarter (3 months from accreditation date) including:

1. Number of youths benefited from space.
2. Youth Engagement.
3. Peak hours of youth showing in space.
4. Feedback/Suggestions to further enhance youth engagement and attract more young people to space.
5. And more could be added upon request.