UAE's youth doesn't shy away from hard work

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UAEs youth doesnt shy away from hard work

It's the generation of entrepreneurs - the youth today makes things happen. And, it's a win-win for us all.

By Disha Dadlani & Eva Prabhakar

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Published: Fri 20 Oct 2017, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Sat 21 Oct 2017, 10:58 AM

They're everywhere. Teaching the underprivileged, inventing fancy gadgets, rebuilding disaster struck cities, and even automating our daily tasks - it's time you stop labelling teenagers as lazy.
Generation Z has multi-tasking down to an art and evidently goes beyond a mere career. It's the generation of entrepreneurs - the youth today makes things happen. And, it's a win-win for us all. "Involving myself in social campaigns and environmental events gives me an opportunity to shape up my personality, confidence, and gain exposure. We should not limit our thinking to focus only on a single career and mere living," says Adithiyan Rajan, a 15-year-old student at JSS International School, who actively organises donations and environmental campaigns in the city.

CHANGEMAKER: Adithiyan Rajan (extreme right), JSS International School, is involved in community activities
Even language is no constraint. "If you have an idea, keep on trying," beams Vania Constantinou, a 16-year-old student at Dubai American Academy, who started English for All. It's a weekly language class for the bus conductors, who come from countries as far apart as Nepal, Uganda, and Indonesia, that takes place at her school with immense support from the principal and the staff.
Nenad Ranisavljevic, another 15-year-old student at GEMS Wellington International School, adds, "I believe we have the skill and the resources to win whatever we set our minds upon." He led his peers at the F1 in Schools - World Finals in building what they call the 'fastest car in Dubai'. They took six months to manufacture a miniature compressed air-powered wooden F1 car, while they sat for their regular exams too.
Sure, this generation comes across barriers and even gets a bad rep for not being focused enough or conscientious enough or well, just being spoilt brats. But, this doesn't faze the youth at all; they keep experimenting, reinventing, and redefining the labels thrown at them. "Don't quit the game. Change your strategy," shares Jashan Singh, a 17-year-old student at Universal American School in Dubai, who has written a book, A Teenager's Ultimate Guide To Success, to motivate other teens to pull through the challenges they come across and as a guide to defining success for themselves.
Born into the digital age, this is truly the renaissance generation - they relate more to each other across the globe than adults living in their own city. They collaborate, use technology to their advantage, and do have their eyes on an end goal. "I attend musical theatre classes that teach dancing, singing and acting. I also had a vocal coach from New York who would Skype with me for lessons. I decide to finish all my schoolwork by Friday so that I can balance theatre and school," says Camila Comerlato, a 14-year-old student at GEMS Wellington International School.
All the screen time has led to a generation that communicates through blogs, vlogs, Snapchats, and Insta stories, lives and breathes IRL and in VR seamlessly, and is showing all of us that it's okay to flaunt failure as long as we keep on going.
Have an inspirational Gen Z story?

Unleash your inner CEO

Been working on a cool idea? Keep an eye out for these young entrepreneur awards.
> The Young Entrepreneur Competition calls all high school and university students. Compete by flaunting pop-up businesses during the four-day-long program across malls in Dubai.
> The Mohammed Bin Rashid Award for Young Business Leaders aims to contribute towards the UAE Vision 2021 by generating a young entrepreneurial culture.
> ShjSEEN Awards (Sharjah Economic Excellence Network Awards) recognises startups and successful entrepreneurs.
> Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards honours entrepreneurs across Asia Pacific every year. Past UAE recipients of the award range from young entrepreneurs to corporate heavyweights.

Youth work permits

Download the Wajjehni app or quickly make your way to the Tas'heel service centre closest to you. For just Dh500, you can apply for training programmes (ages 12 to 15) or juvenile work permits (ages 15 to 18) in the private sector.
You just need written consent from a parent, and you're on your way to building skills towards your ultimate dream. Under a recent decree from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, companies can hire residents for up to six months (under 15-years-old) or one year (15-18 years-old) for work not exceeding six hours a day.
Write to us at letters@khaleejtimes.com


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