Qudwati Programme Nurtures Abu Dhabi’s Youth Through Intergenerational Mentorship
The Department of Community Development has launched an innovative initiative connecting 120 young Emiratis with experienced professionals and retirees, fostering meaningful dialogue across generations whilst equipping participants with essential skills for personal, family and professional fulfilment.
The Department of Community Development has unveiled the inaugural phase of the Qudwati programme, a thoughtfully conceived initiative designed to cultivate informed decision-making amongst Emirati youth whilst strengthening the bonds of intergenerational respect and shared wisdom within Abu Dhabi’s communities.
Through a series of interactive discussions and expertly facilitated workshops, the programme creates a distinctive space for 120 young Emiratis aged 18 to 24 to engage with 24 seasoned mentors drawn from retired professionals and government service, alongside 17 specialists from supporting organisations. This carefully curated assembly of participants reflects a multi-stage nomination and selection process undertaken to ensure the highest calibre of guidance and mutual learning.
A Comprehensive Curriculum for Life’s Critical Decisions
The programme’s practical sessions address four fundamental areas essential to young adulthood: personal development and resilience, analytical thinking and financial decision-making, the selection of a life partner, and the construction of a stable married life. Rather than presenting these topics as abstract concepts, Qudwati encourages participants to reflect critically upon their own circumstances, to pose meaningful questions, and to draw upon the real-life experiences shared by their mentors as they assume greater personal, familial and community responsibilities.
The inaugural session, held at Nabd Mohammed Bin Zayed City in Al Manhal, concentrated upon personal development and resilience, exploring how participants might navigate diverse situations and challenges whilst cultivating self-awareness and confidence. Subsequent sessions have focused upon the analytical frameworks necessary for sound financial stewardship and the foundations upon which enduring partnerships and family stability are constructed.
Bridging Generations Through Shared Experience
Her Excellency Dr Laila Al Hyas, Executive Director of the Family and Child Welfare Sector at the Department of Community Development, articulated the programme’s significance: “The Qudwati programme aligns with national priorities and the objectives of the UAE Year of Family, reflecting our belief in the importance of investing in youth as future family-builders and active partners in the UAE’s development. Building strong, connected families starts with giving youth the knowledge, skills, and values to make informed decisions and confidently navigate the changes and challenges they may face throughout their lives.”
Beyond the transmission of practical knowledge, Qudwati recognises the continued value that retirees and experienced professionals offer to their communities. By creating structured opportunities for meaningful dialogue, the programme enables these seasoned individuals to share not merely their professional expertise but the accumulated wisdom of their lived experiences, offering young participants fresh perspectives as they contemplate their personal, familial and professional trajectories.
The initiative reflects a broader commitment to strengthening intergenerational ties and cultivating shared community responsibility, ensuring that experienced individuals continue to play a vital role in society whilst young people benefit from guidance grounded in genuine life experience rather than theory alone.
The programme will conclude in late October with a formal ceremony honouring participants for their engagement, their contributions to meaningful dialogue, and their participation in this distinctive knowledge-sharing endeavour across generations.
Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office