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In the UAE, government and business leaders’ strong interest in improving the future of young people inspired us to launch a global hub office there. Some of the region’s most influential business leaders joined us as EFE-UAE board members. They drew on their local insight and networks to introduce us to royal family members including His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Ron Bruder is founder and chairman Mabarak Al Nahayan. of Education For Employment. The patronage of His Excellency [email protected] Sheikh Al Nahayan has been key @EFE_Global to our work in the UAE in a number of ways. Not only did he lend his expertise (he was formerly a minister of higher education and scientific research, minister of education, minister of culture and knowledge development and chancellor of several universities) to our launch event in the UAE, His Excellency’s understanding of media operations also enabled him to attract public attention to a key social issue. This ensured that regional youth employment, and EFE’s model for addressing it, reached the headlines of nearly every major media outlet. Importantly, His Excellency’s optimistic vision for the role that youth can play in society aligns strongly with EFE’s convictions, making his advocacy authentic our goals are our goals, Launching in 2006, we pioneered and compelling. ‘Y and I am sure that you will demand-driven job training and strengthen our efforts to placement in countries across Perhaps above all, royal and ensure that our young men and MENA. The model increases youth ministerial support has helped to women achieve their full potential employment by assessing the private distinguish EFE from the many other in satisfying and productive sector’s entry-level labour needs, international non-profits that have employment.’ His Excellency Sheikh building soft skills and technical aimed to establish a presence in the Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, the training programmes in response, UAE, and elevated our work in the minister of tolerance, offered this and linking graduates directly to view of multinationals and local affirmation of Education For job opportunities. We later added Emirati institutions alike. It has Employment (EFE) during the programmes for young people who underscored our credibility launch of our office in the United have trouble accessing private sector and relevance in a region where Arab Emirates in May 2016. work opportunities but who could reputation is key. Ultimately it has succeed as micro-entrepreneurs, if enabled EFE to catch the attention EFE’s mission – to equip young they have the right preparation. of corporate and institutional entities people with the skills and that have since become partners, opportunities they need to build Over the following decade we built helping us to reach youth across the careers that create a better future – is locally-run EFE affiliates in , and .

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