1. How many days are face-to-face versus remote?
A total of 5 days are face-to-face while the remaining parts of the program will be held virtually.
2. What will my child gain as a direct result of being on this program?
At thend of the program, participants will be able to:
- Identify what components must come together to build a FUTURE GUARDIAN leader (including understanding personal strengths and preferred behaviours)
- Demonstrate leadership core traits individually, in teams, and across groups
- Build confidence in individuals’ behaviours, aptitudes, core traits and abilities
- Identify and adapt to differentiating team dynamics and exemplify the best approach to engage with peer groups, parents, teachers, mentors, and the community
- Deliver a 3-minute pitch to a panel of judges confidently
- Implement best approaches in project development, management and measurement
- Use various ways to settle their minds and be present in the moment
- Identify global trends and how they influence their future
- Use project management tools for their individual and group projects and effective time management
- Identify their leadership style and how to adapt it effectively to various contexts
3. Who are the mentors on the program?
Pupilar is one of the founding organisations of Future Guardians and as such they bring a wealth of expertise to the equation.They will provide up to five mentors (one for each team) to mentor them on their journey throughout the program.The mentors are university graduates in the country with expertise in the challenges that are provided as part of this program.
Their objective is to guide and advise the groups in order to progress in their projects and be pitch-ready on the final day of the program.The criteria that the judges will be evaluating the projects will be provided from the 2nd day of the program.
4. What are the challenges/projects on the program?
We have identified five unique challenges for this program, and they are:
- Climate Change & Environment:What solution would you suggest to the Abu Dhabi Municipality or ADDC to help Abu Dhabi community and companies preserve water?
- Community Development:What solution can you design to support various communities in various areas in Abu Dhabi to be more tightly knit and harmonious?
- Future of Work:How might we prepare Abu Dhabi to be a more attractive city to talent that is in high demand globally?
- Future of Schools:If you could design a typical school week for a 13-year-old; what would it look and feel like for teachers, students and parents?
- Entrepreneurship:How will you design and produce 30 t-shirts that recognise the importance and value of this leadership program?
Each team will develop solutions for these challenges and pitch their ideas to a panel of subject matter expert judges and leaders.The potential of the winning solution to take a flight is a prospective future for the winning team.
5. Who are the coaches on the program?
Both Nicola Ablett and Sarah Shaw are the main coaches on this program. You can find their bios here.
6. How many hours of coaching will they receive
Each participant will receive a total of 90 minutes during the 2-week program (each session is 45 minutes long).
7. Is the coaching face-to-face or online?
All coaching sessions will be conducted virtually and scheduled at the beginning of the program.
8. What are the projects the participants will be working on?
Over and above the group projects detailed in Question 11, participants will also work on an individual project with their assigned coach.The individual projects aim to address one of the following areas in participants:
- Do something they’ve never done for the first time within the next 2 weeks (after parent consultation and approval)
- Develop a skill/talent they have and show the cohort that skill
- Overcome a fear that they have
The coaching sessions will be focused on addressing their individual projects directly.
9. What types of activities are included in the program?
The program has a wide range of activities from in-class work, individual reflections, dynamic engagement in discussions and dialogue and an excursion to widen their horizons.
Participants will also have first-hand opportunities to engage with leaders from the 5 projects/challenges explained in Question 11.
These close proximity discussions with thought leaders in these themes will help them further develop their solutions to the challenges their teams are addressing.
10. What is the time commitment required for the program?
Face-to-face commitment is 6 hours per day
Online commitment is 45 minutes per coaching session
Team meetings (either virtual or in-person) are to the teams’ discretion with their respective mentors
