MD & CEO of DEWA reviews key achievements of DEWA Youth Council

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), highlighted DEWA’s commitment to empowering young employees and enhancing their leadership capabilities, enabling them to be the cornerstone of sustainable development, and build a brighter future for generations to come.  This was during an online meeting with DEWA’s 2nd Youth Council. Al Tayer highlighted DEWA's efforts in providing young employees with an effective platform for their views on various issues, to communicate their ideas and employ them to serve the UAE and its people.

"Our vision aligns with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to empower young people and involve them in the development process. Our workforce includes 1,865 young employees between the ages of 18 and 29 (15% of the overall workforce), with young men and women forming 66.54% and 33.46% respectively. Furthermore, DEWA has empowered young employees to take on 88% effective roles. At DEWA, we continue to support our youth in several leading initiatives, aiming to elevate their contributions, and establish the leading position of DEWA’s Youth Council among its national counterparts," said Al Tayer.

During the meeting, Aysha Mohammad Alremeithi, DEWA’s Youth Council President, showcased the 2nd Youth Council's achievements and challenges. She also thanked Al Tayer for his ongoing support and his commitment to empowering them and unlocking their potential.

"The Council aims to communicate with DEWA’s youth and provide a nurturing environment, focusing on their ideas and talents, in addition to developing initiatives related to their interests. It also utilises their capabilities for the development of DEWA and the community. We spare no effort in supporting our youth with everything they need to succeed so that they can play their role as key supporters of DEWA's excellence," said Alremeithi.

Since October 2019, DEWA's Youth Council has launched several initiatives, with more than 10 communication platforms to further connect with DEWA’s young employees. The Council has organised more than 15 virtual events with over 470 participants, with a 94% happiness rate of the youth in the main events. Additionally, the Council organised several virtual tours of DEWA's main projects, including the Research and Development Centre, as well as welcoming several international delegations as part of the Council's Benchmarking Visits programme. DEWA's Youth Council organised virtual brainstorming workshops to address the needs of the youth, and give them an opportunity to express their opinions and aspirations in all aspects of DEWA's work. The Council also partnered with several DEWA committees to organise a variety of programmes, such as the collaboration with DEWA Sports Committee for the Virtual Running Tournament.

The Council also collaborated with the Federal Youth Authority (FYA) to launch an awareness campaign under the hashtag #StayResponsible, for all precautionary measures, in accordance with the highest standards of efficiency and resilience. The Youth Council distributed FYA's Youth Councils Manual,  a guide containing 100 ideas to invest young people's energy and time during the implementation of the UAE's National Sterilisation Programme.

As part of the World Green Economy Summit (WGES 2019), the Council organised a session entitled: ‘Youth Circle:  Youth contribution to localising the SDGs and harnessing technologies to achieve them’. More than 10 youth councils, including the SDGs Youth Council and the Society of Engineers Youth Council, took part.  DEWA Youth Council also participated in the GOV Youth Summit 2020, and a panel discussion entitled ‘Shaping the future of the youth workforce in the GCC’.

The Council also launched the ‘Youth X Knowledge’ initiative during Knowledge Day, in cooperation with  experts from its Department of Knowledge and Intellectual Capital. In celebration of International Youth Day, the Council organised three sessions within the 'Youth Talks' programme, one of the outputs of the youth retreat initiative organised by the Council. The Council also participated in the third forum of youth councils aimed at developing youth skills, mental health, volunteering experience, and encouraging STEM education, and the role of youth in climate change. Building on the outcomes of the forum, the council formed a volunteer committee, to be added to the council's other three committees: The Statistics and Research Committee, the Events and Initiatives Committee, and the Communication Committee.

During Innovation Month 2020, the Council organised a forum on innovation, under the theme ‘Let’s innovate with DEWA’s youth’. The Council organised several specialised workshops on AI and machine learning basics, AI research at DEWA, creativity excellence journey, disruptive innovation, and the creative personality. The Council organised a brainstorming session that highlighted ‘2020: Towards the next 50’, as well as ways to develop further initiatives.

During the Holy Month of Ramadan 2020, DEWA's Youth Council launched the ‘Our Youth.. Our Pride’ initiative honouring pioneering young people in the volunteer work. In conjunction with Green Week 2019, the Council participated in organising the Youth Sustainability Forum and took part in its presentations and panel discussions. It also organised the first of its kind youth debate on gender equality, in support of the 5th goal of the SDGs.