International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12 each year. For 2020, the UN selected "Youth Engagement for Global Action" as the theme of the commemoration, a pertinent one given the events that have transpired this past year, with individuals all across the globe facing similar challenges and life-changing transformations.
School-going children have had to switch to a completely new e-learning model that has proven challenging for both them and their teachers. Educators do not have prior experience nor training in teaching children via video calls, while students have trouble focusing on online lessons for extended periods. Moreover, they are missing out on the social aspect of being at school – an essential component of the overall learning experience.
Despite the drawbacks, students have been eager to adapt and power through the situation. Clearly, the youth of this generation is resilient, aware and creative. Now it is up to us – their parents, teachers, leaders – to empower them with the right mix of tools they need in order to grow and achieve their full potential.
Teachers disinfect toys at a kindergarten in South Korea. EPA
Classse are back in Vietnam with children doing gymnastic exercises in a Hanoi elementary school.EPA
Students work on a project at Lysterfield Primary School on May 26, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Getty
In England, the sign on an entrance gate indicates schools are still closed. Getty
In Italy, students sare back in classes in Bolzano. EPA
Children in Rome study at home. Getty
Some international schools in Beijing are reopening on June 1. AP
A woman looks at pictures of the graduating senior class hung on the fence at a high school in New York. EPA
Perhaps on this year's International Youth Day, we can consider creative solutions to get children across the region back into classrooms, while observing safety and social distancing measures.
In a thought-provoking article for the Financial Times, Jonathan Marvel, a prominent architect and founding principal at Marvel Architects, based in New York and San Juan, outlined some useful ideas to get children back to classrooms safely for the next academic year.
Mr Marvel noted that the pandemic has led many cities to close down streets due to the limited use of commercial indoor spaces. For example, al fresco dining is now the preferred choice in restaurants. Streets are being used for summer recreation, which works well given the reduced traffic as more people work from home. Mr Marvel points out that these spaces can be transformed into makeshift classrooms once the school year begins.
The GCC region has exceptional capabilities and holds vast experience in creating temporary spaces for world-class events – so this concept is definitely implementable in our region. We host myriad industry conferences and trade shows in addition to a wide variety of consumer events every year. We possess the raw materials, collapsible furniture and electrical equipment required to help extend school spaces beyond their brick-and-mortar premises.
With some meticulous planning and investment, we will be able to create classrooms that can allow fewer students to be in a room at a time, and thereby observe mandatory safety measures against the coronavirus.
Adnec already being repurposed
A total of 150 medics will be on site caring for Covid-19 patients
Beds and medical equipment have already been installed
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is to open as an emergency field hospital. All pictures courtesy Adnec
The sprawling site will have the capacity to treat 1,000 patients
Workers help to fit out the vast medical facility
Waves of cubicles have been set up to treat patients safely
The Adnec facility is one of two new field hospitals built in Abu Dhabi
The huge space available at the exhibition centre is being put to good use to help those in need of treatment
Patients who have contracted Covid-19 will be treated at the new facility
Partitioned cubicles have been set up at the Adnec venue
Workmen begin transforming Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre into a huge field hospital. Courtesy: Adnec
The Exhibition centre has been rapidly transformed into a field hospital
This step would significantly reduce the number of individuals in close contact with one another at schools, while allowing students to resume their studies with some semblance of normality. Larger spaces will allow them to maintain safe distance and reduce the risk of contagion.
Above all else, supporting the reopening of schools would boost student morale and serve as an excellent illustration of overcoming unprecedented challenges through finding creative, yet practical solutions.
Of course, this initiative will require the government and education ministries to work closely with the events and exhibitions industry. It also necessitates the mobilisation of considerable resources and investments, albeit those that will provide excellent returns.
Not only will students be inspired to get back to school premises, this solution is certain to alleviate the stress parents are undergoing – pushing their children to stay focused and stimulated from the confines of their homes.
With children back at school, it will mean working parents will have more time and energy to channel towards their professional roles, which will lead to more efficiency and a spike in morale. We can start to move closer to the routines that we were used to before the pandemic hit, albeit with cautiousness needed to keep future infection rates at a minimum.
School preparations ...
Overall, this exercise will boost productivity and enable our region to rebuild the economy and ensure that recovery happens sooner rather than later.
We need to remember that our young generations are exceptionally talented, and it is our responsibility to enable them to unlock their full potential and become active contributors to society. The most powerful lessons are taught by example and we must demonstrate our confidence in our children and their future by channelling all the resources we possibly can towards their secure and prosperous future.
In the spirit of International Youth Day, I encourage you to take a moment to think about the present scenario and the challenges our children are facing. We must all join forces to support them as much as possible and shape solutions that will help them navigate their way through the global pandemic while preparing them to deal with any future crises that may occur in an agile and effective manner.
Mohammed Alardhi is executive chairman of Investcorp, chairman of Bank Sohar and was longest-serving Omani head of the Royal Air Force of Oman
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), EsekaiaDranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), JaenBotes (Exiles), KristianStinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), EmosiVacanau (Harlequins), NikoVolavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), ThinusSteyn (Exiles)
Red flags
Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023 More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE) Where: Allianz Arena, Munich Live: BeIN Sports HD Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2007: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla and Mali)
2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2010: Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan and Cameroon)
2011: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2012: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2014: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City and Algeria)
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
