On the 27th February 2007 a Tawteen Symposium was held in Abu Dhabi under the Patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Following the Symposium, the Tawteen Programme was launched as an initiative of the Emirates Foundation – the founding partner – and in conjunction with the MENA Learning and Leadership (MLLP) Programme. Represented on the MLLP board are the British Council, BP, Compass Rose, DLA Piper, Emirates Foundation, International Power, Middle East Association, Rolls-Royce and Shell.
The first outcome of the initiative was the conception of 13 projects to develop and deliver sustainable solutions to learning and development in the UAE. On 23rd October 2007, eight of these projects were advanced to the pilot stage.
To date, Tawteen has completed seven of these pilot projects, with the central aim being the need to address specific gaps in private sector employment as well as the unique employment needs and challenges in the UAE.
Over 4,200 young Emiratis between the ages of 14-26 have been involved in the programme since the launch in November 2007, and over 53,000 development hours have been delivered.
Tawteen, with the support of the Emirates Foundation and its partners, was given a mandate to:
- Leverage private sector support and best practice models
- Mobilise private sector funding;
- Equip Emiratis with the mindset and relevant skills for future employment in the UAE and in the global economic market;
- Co-ordinate with existing successful projects across the UAE for the benefit of the community.
The Tawteen initiative adopted a collaborative approach by involving the four key pillars of society - the private sector, the UAE Government, civil society and academia - across all Tawteen’s programmes to achieve the following objectives:
- Unlock local talent and empower local individuals
- Enhance access to learning and skills development
- Ensure access to meaningful employment for locals
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