THE YOUTH: BOLD NEW WORLD 2018 MANIFESTO

Tamakkan Forum Issues Youth Policy Guidelines for the Changing Landscapes of Technology, Media, Entrepreneurship and Ethics

ABU DHABI, UAE – Youth today need to be media literate, technologically savvy, ethical and think like an entrepreneurs, according to the BOLD NEW WORLD Manifesto issued at the end of the Tamakkan’s YOUTH: 2018 forum.

The event, held under the Year of Zayed banner, issued guidelines developed by four expert panels on the transformation taking place in technology, media, ethics, and entrepreneurship, and the measures that need to be in place right now, to enable and guide youth to face emerging challenges and opportunities, and build a ‘bold new world’.

The forum took place at the Sorbonne University, and included partners Sky News Arabia, Emirates Foundation and Harvard Business Review (HBR). It kicked off with presentation of HBR’s Top Key Youth Indicators, and included an interview of CEO of Emirates Foundation, HE Maytha Al Habsi who shared the foundation’s vision for the future. The four panels explored issues relating to ‘Media’ which was led by Sky News’ Chantal Saliba; ‘Technology’ led by New York University Abu Dhabi’s Jared Grogan; ‘Ethics’ led by Canadian University Dubai’s Dr. Franziska Apprich; and ‘Entrepreneurship’ led by The Improbable Agency’s Laura Toma.

The Manifesto defined clear recommendations to help youth realize their capabilities and the new opportunities that are open for them to challenge and conquer.

Sana Bagersh, Tamakkan’s founder, and CEO of BrandMoxie announced THE BOLD NEW WORLD YOUTH MANIFESTO:

For Technology:

Youth are ahead of the curve and more adaptable to change and they must be empowered and trusted from a young age to grow as leaders in driving technological change, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Society needs to democratize knowledge through open source platforms that enable people across ages, backgrounds, and academic disciplines to enhance their knowledge and skill set with hands on experience. Youth need to overcome fear of failure and be encouraged to overcome assumption that STEM subjects are too difficult. Youth need to unlock the power of technology and innovate, by experimenting and opening their minds to new possibilities.

For Media:

Youth should be vigilant in processing information and should have access to adequate media literacy tools and education so that they are able to know and judge their information sources. Youth should know how to guard their reputation by pushing out digital information responsibly and understanding longterm consequences. Young people involved in social media marketing should accept the responsibility that comes with the power they have to influence others, ensuring information is accurate and will not incur damage on individuals or society.

For Entrepreneurship:

Young people should be encouraged to pursue social entrepreneurship in order to focus providing solutions to real-life problems that will improve their communities. Young people should be provided with opportunity to become entrepreneurs, and to feel empowered to build their own businesses; young people should be challenged from a young age and to be taught to think entrepreneurially and build the skillset that includes resilience and problem solving.

For Ethics:

Young people should live up to the challenges that the new economy will bring to them, and to live by a code of ethics that will guide them through their lifelong journey, and to be able to have the perseverence and courage to pursue their dreams.

End of Manifesto

Speaking for the Tech Panel, Grogan said: “We are living through a period of profound technologically driven change, and for new ideas and solutions the world needs a paradigm shift to recognize that leadership must come from youth.”

Speaking of the Youth and Media panel, Saliba said: “Don’t believe everything you read – always read between the lines!”

Apprich, who headed the panel Ethics panel said, “It is crucial that our youth practice ethics in all they do; be hard working and persistent, and always be critical thinkers. An education of the heart and mind is crucial to build a successful tomorrow on earth and in space.”

Toma whose panel focused on Youth and Entrepreneurship, said “The victory of an entrepreneurial generation is not just in the number of businesses that they will create but the world of ideas that they will bring to life”.

Sana Bagersh said, “We are thrilled with the outcome of the sessions and with the strategic focus of the Youth 2018 manifesto. Our hope is that this document will be used by educationists and policy makers to address important issues, and to empower youth to thrive and take ownership of a bold new world.”

Bagersh recognized the role of collaboration and partnership, and thanked Sorbonne University, Harvard Business Review, Emirates Foundation and Sky News Arabia.

The HBR Youth Indicators announced by Hadi Malaeb of Haykal Media are: ‘One, optimism among Arab Youth is declining in general – with the exception of the GCC area where youth are overwhelmingly optimistic. Two, generally speaking, entrepreneurial spirit is high. Three, young Arabs want their countries to do more for them – many feel overlooked by policy makers. Four, young Arabs see unemployment and extremism as the biggest threats to the area. Five, many young Arabs feel that their education system is not adequate to prepare them for the future – except in the GCC. Six, one in three young Arabs wants to live in the UAE followed by USA, Saudi, Canada and Germany. Seven, Arab youth are increasingly concerned about obesity and lifestyle diseases. Eight, an overwhelming majority of young Arabs believe they are entitled to subsidized cost – food, energy, medicine, etc. Nine, Facebook is the number one medium for daily news. Ten, a great majority believe that the Arabic Language is one of the most important pillars of our unity and strength – yet they all feel that it is declining in importance.’

The event included an original song honouring Sheikh Zayed, performed by celebrated Jordanian singer Zain Awad; an Art, Music and Poetry (AMP) show dedicated to Sheikh Zayed’s memory and a motivational talk by Founder of Mountain High Julie Lewis. Charif Hamidi acted as Emcee of the forum and the art show was curatated by Zari Jafri and Deepali Shukla Hakim.

Tamakkan is an initiative that nurtures entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation. Established in June 2009 by BrandMoxie, Tamakkan is a knowledge sharing platform that supports the growth of SMEs and youth. Tamakkan promotes innovation, best practices and corporate social responsibility to corporations and institutions, and has grown into a powerful knowledge sharing platform that plays a vital role in nation-building.

YOUTH: A BOLD NEW WORLD 2018 ON GLOBAL DISRUPTION FACING YOUTH

Tamakkan Brings Experts to
Debate Challenges and Opportunities

Abu Dhabi, UAE – The changing landscape of technology, media, business and ethics will be explored at Youth: A Bold New World 2018, a Tamakkan forum hosted at the Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (PSUAD) on the 23rd of January.

The youth focused forum being held by BrandMoxie’s Tamakkan platform, in collaboration with PSUAD, Emirates Foundation, Sky News Arabia, and Harvard Business Review Arabic, brings together experts and youth to discuss the challenges and opportunities that are rapidly transforming the world.

The forum will feature an interview of Emirates Foundation’s CEO H.E. Maytha Al Habsi, who will share the foundation’s vision and strategy in a chat with Alan Marzo, Culture and Political Advisor of the Swiss Embassy. This will be followed by four panels focused on technology, media, entrepreneurship and ethics.

The event will kick off with a presentation on key youth indicators, by Hadi Malaeb of Harvard Business Review which will highlight current and future youth trends in the region.

Sky News Arabia anchor Chantal Saliba will moderate the Youth and Media panel which will feature panelists Valia Chami, Senior News Editor, Abdou Gadallah, Social Media Editor and Mahra Al Yaqoobi, Learning & Development Manager. The discussion will address emerging media issues such as the incidence of fake news and the increase in extremist ideologies, and the measures in media literacy that are needed to guide youth.

The Youth and Technology panel will be moderated by New York University Abu Dhabi special advisor Jared Grogan whose panelists include Abdelrazak Al-Sharif, Innovation Engineer at StartAD, NYUAD, Hoda Al Khzaimi, Director of the Center of Cyber Security at NYUAD, Britt Spyrou, National Organic Market Access Manager of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, and Elizabeth McGuffee, Director of Institutional Advancement at American Community School (ACS). They will discuss the rapidly evolving tech space and what youth need to be aware of with regards to the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Virtual and Augmented Reality.

The Youth and Ethics panel which will be led by Dr. Franziska Apprich from the Canadian University in Dubai will include panelists Anne Russell, Service Learning Coordinator at ACS, and Fatema Al Hameli, Mechanical Engineer at Abu Dhabi Space Agency. It will explore vital issues in ethics that need to be inculcated in youth to enable them to thrive and become responsible and engaged as citizens of the world.

Laura Toma, Managing Partner at The Improbable Agency, will be moderating the Youth and Entrepreneurship panel, which will comprise Lina Hourani, Director of CSR at Al Ahli Group, Maria Pearson, Founder of Grow.me, Taleb Al Hashmi, Founder of TBH Consultancy and Hanane Benkhallouk, Founder of Sustain Leadership. The panel will discuss key entrepreneurship trends, and the importance of equipping youth with the entrepreneurial skills needed to manage a dynamic and evolving work landscape, in the face of emerging risks from AI.

Kicking off the forum will be a performance of an original song celebrating the Year of Zayed and performed by the recognized Jordanian singer Zain Awad. The event will also feature the AMP art exhibition curated by Zari Jafri and Deepali Shukla Hakim and a motivational pep talk by founder of Mountain High, Julie Lewis.

“This Tamakkan we focused extensively on youth as we are going through global transformational changes that are reshaping the way we live, work and socialize. Our youth will need new skills and deeper insights to navigate the pathways of both challenges and opportunities. We are thankful to all our partners who made this forum possible by embracing BrandMoxie’s vision and supporting us in empowering youth and guiding them towards a bold new world,” said Sana Bagersh, CEO of BrandMoxie and founder of Tamakkan.

Professor Eric Fouache, Vice Chancellor of PSUAD expressed his support for the youth forum, and its impact on the community. “At Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi we value constructive partnerships, especially those in the areas of innovation and nation-building. We look forward to these engaging discussions that will provide impetus for new dialogues about youth. We believe in the crucial role youth play in societies, therefore we are committed to empower our students by giving them the right opportunities to grow through guiding them during their academic journey.”

Information on this event is available through www.tamakkan.com and registrations for this free to attend the forum are through events@oquezo.com.

The Smovies Kicks Off New Season

The theme promotes UAE’s diversity and tolerance

 

Abu Dhabi, UAE – The Smovies short film competition, conducted in partnership with VOX Cinemas and the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, has launched its new one-minute film challenge themed “Culture and Understanding.”

 

The Smovies competition, initiated by BrandMoxie, a leading marketing and advertising agency based the UAE, as a way to encourage budding filmmakers, students, amateurs, and professionals to create digital content that can be showcased to local and international audiences. The Smovies winning film is screened across VOX theaters in the UAE.

 

“This year’s theme, #CultureAndUnderstanding, was inspired by the rich cultural diversity of the UAE and it reflects the country’s welcoming spirit and its support for deepening of tolerance between nations,” said Sana Bagersh, CEO of BrandMoxie and founder of The Smovies.

 

As part of the competition, The Smovies will provide film workshops led by experienced directors, including Los Angeles film agency CreatorUp on how to tell a story and capture a complete idea in a one minute format.

 

“VOX Cinemas is proud to be part of The Smovies as an essential platform for emerging filmmakers and creatives. We look forward to seeing the submissions for this year’s competition. Supporting regional talent and bringing their winning creations to VOX Cinemas’ screens is another way in which we’re delivering on Majid Al Futtaim’s commitment to creating great moments for everyone, everyday,” added Cameron Mitchell, CEO, VOX Cinemas.

 

Highlighting the U.S. Embassy’s ongoing partnership with The Smovies, U.S. Embassy spokesperson Nadia Ziyadeh stated that, “We are proud to have been a part of The Smovies over the last three years, and we look forward to the upcoming season of this innovative competition.”

 

With submissions limited to 60 seconds or list, filmmakers will have a unique opportunity to express their creativity in conveying this year’s theme, #CultureAndUnderstanding. The submissions can be made in the form of a story, a documentary-style presentation, a social commentary or a literary presentation.

 

The deadline for submissions is November 15, 2017. The short-listed entries will be judged by the Smovies’ jury of film experts: Emirati actor Mansoor Alfeeli (Zinzana), directors Majid Al Ansari (Zinzana), Khaled Al Mahmoud (Sabeel) and Nujoom Al Ghanem (Red, Blue, Yellow), as well as filmmaking instructors and veterans Imad DeirAtany, David Moore, Greg Unrau, Mohannad Al Bakri, Dahlia Mahmoud and Michelle Nickelson.

 

For more information or to participate, applicants can go to www.thesmovies.com as well as The Smovies Facebook page and group, and by emailing events@oquezo.com.

How to Find Happiness by Owning Your Success!

Recognizing the Success Paradox and Avoiding Stereotype Traps

By Sana Bagersh

 

How many times have you heard, “She is so successful, I don’t know how she does it”? Or “I wish I could be wealthy like him”?

 

Do you ever think about what ‘success’ means to you? Is it driving a fancy car? Owning a big house? Running your own business? Working for a large company? Is it marrying into wealth? Working for a social cause? Running a charity?

 

I’ve met countless entrepreneurs through Tamakkan and counselled many others through BrandMoxie, who come with big dreams. Many of them know what they want to achieve but some become imprisoned by others’ notions of ‘success’ – whether it is the ideals of their parents or friends, or the values promoted by popular culture.

 

If you isolate the word ‘success’ you’ll see that it carries immense power: to empower and to inspire. But conversely, it also has the potential to entrap us within preconceived narratives of success.

 

How each of us sees success depends on our interpretation of the word, and that is uniquely defined by each person’s background, culture, class, age and circumstances. Just like a person on Wall Street and a trader in Tanzania will have very different aspirations and understandings of ‘success,’ the definition also changes over a person’s age and life cycle. But what’s ultimately important is to realize that your interpretation of success at any given time could either be a catalyst to spur you on, or act as a barrier that constricts your thinking and actions.

 

I see my ‘success’ as a deeply personal thing. My definition, for me, is driven by my goals, shaped by my past experiences and determined by my future aspirations. My success is also very imperfect, because it comes with pain and compromise. It is not always perfectly aligned with my ‘inner self’ or with the priorities of family. But – and this is the point being made here – it is distinctly mine; I own its definition and its execution, and I am also fully responsible for its shortcomings.

 

I urge you to be aware of your own journey, and to take ownership of your success…

 
 

Align your ‘dream’ with your definition of success

 

I know people who identify with the popularized version of success, while underselling their own dreams. Some women for instance introduce themselves (apologetically) as ‘I’m just a stay at home mom’ – as if being a mother is the opposite of being ‘successful.’ Can a stay at home mom be described as ‘successful’? Definitely. She can be as successful as her own definition of success, and within her own environment, her own focus and sets of goals. We don’t all have to have cookie cutter aspirations and we don’t all have to be defined by our work to be ‘successful’. It is important not to keep up with the Joneses (or aspire to the Kardashians), and to beware the ‘me too’ trap.

 
 

The allure of the startup billionaire

 

A troubling trend these days is the glorification of young tech wizards whose startups catapult them into instantaneous millionaire or billionaire status. Although these young guns deserve to be admired, they don’t have to be emulated. They are not the norm, and they shouldn’t be adopted as the standard.

 

While it is great to have such role models, it can be detrimental to aspire to impossible levels of financial achievement. Statistically, not everyone can be a Mark Zuckerberg or Larry Page. So why aspire to impossible standards that set you up for ‘failure’?

 
 

Don’t focus on ‘success,’ but aim for ‘happiness’

 

I’ve met those who set the bar for themselves very high to keep up with the stereotypes of ‘success.’ They commit to these goals, work hard and finally achieve ‘success’ – whether it is landing that big job, or running their own business. But upon reaching the goal the person realizes that this is not what he or she wanted. Yes, they achieved ‘success,’ but they did not achieve happiness.

 

The lesson here is know yourself well – and take time to do this. Knowing ‘you’ is the most important person you need to know. Think about what makes you happy…identify those times where you are content, and those situations that make you uncomfortable or unhappy. While it is great to step outside your comfort zone, it is equally important to know where your long term comfort lies. Don’t be like many people I know who work too long and too hard to find out too late. Know that ultimately your success is what makes you happy.

 

So the lesson here is don’t succumb to the stereotype, and realize that your dream does not have to be big or small – it just has to be yours. And it needs to make you happy!

HE Omar Ghobash Urges Muslim Youth to Embrace Moderation and Independent Thinking

Abu Dhabi, UAE — Omar Ghobash, UAE ambassador to Russia and author of the acclaimed new book “Letters to a Young Muslim,” called for a less didactic, more open approach to Islamic education for children, at a Tamakkan seminar organized by BrandMoxie at twofour54.

 

Ghobash, who wrote the book with his sons, Saif, aged 16, and Abdullah, 12, in mind, encourages moderation in religious thinking and teaching,  especially at a time of political turmoil where young Muslims can be susceptible to extremist propaganda that is promoted through today’s technology platforms.

 

“One of the key messages I wanted to get across to my son and his generation is don’t feel ashamed for being a human being who reacts with disgust towards certain things and with pleasure at other things. And to actually locate your own humanity before approaching the world of politics, religion, or ideology or any other sphere where people fight,” he said.

 

Sana Bagersh, CEO of BrandMoxie and founder of Tamakkan said the release of Ghobash’s book is timely and its message vital in today’s world. “Young Muslims today need guidance and this book beautifully presents advice that is learned, logical and extremely balanced. Omar Ghobash is a relevant, courageous and most welcome champion for peace and reason – we should listen to his important message.” said Bagersh.

 

“The middle ground is actually a teaching attributed to Prophet Mohammed himself who advocated balance and moderation in thought and action, and described Islam as a ‘middle path,” said Bagersh.

 

Ghobash stated that his book does not quote the Quran and was not pre-read by a theologian. “It is the individual that needs to participate” he said, pointing out that faith is a person’s understanding and that “common individuals can acquire enough psychological and soft knowledge to be able to engage with religious scholars”.

 

In Tamakkan’s event moderated by Faisal Al Yafai, the chief columnist for The National, Ghobash, also talked about what his perspective as a diplomat and a father, and shared anecdotes about his family and work life. He spoke about the ideological challenges young people encounter, and how thinking independently can help them shape a future of hope and possibility.

 

When asked about what his next plans are after publishing the book, Ghobash said: “My response was that there is no ‘next’ – there’s only following some of these passages to see what kind of difference it would actually make and how we slightly reorient ourselves after reading it.”

 

Apart from being the UAE’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Omar Ghobash also established “The Third Line” art gallery which showcases artists from all over the Middle East.

 

The Tamakkan seminar was attended by business and community leaders including US Ambassador Barbara Leaf,  ADMAF Founder Hoda Al Khamis Kanoo and twofour54 CEO Maryam al Mheiri.

 

Tamakkan is an initiative aimed at nurturing entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation. Established in June 2009 by BrandMoxie, a leading advertising agency and marketing consultancy in the UAE, Tamakkan supports the growth of SMEs and startups by providing access to information and networking, as well as promoting innovation, best practices and corporate social responsibility to corporations and institutions. The initiative has grown into a powerful knowledge sharing and training platform that has contributed to the development of the UAE’s SME growth.

 

References: www.tamakkan.com and www.brandmoxie.com

 

###

Media Inquiries: Neil Bie Email: events@oquezo.com Tel: 02-4918624

Tamakkan Hosts the First Screening of “Lemonade” in Abu Dhabi

Tamakkan hosted a screening of the Documentary Film Lemonade produced by US born Emirati author and speaker, Dedra L. Stevenson, on home schooling an adult with Autism. The movie is directed by Emirati, Sara Al Hashemi, titled after the famous English phrase: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. It follows the daily life and struggles of Dedra’s son, Ibrahim, a 23-year old adult living with Autism.

The movie screening was also an awareness event on the life of people living with Autism here in the UAE, and how even those with a disability can be given a purpose in life that gives them happiness and meaning. The session was attended by family members of Ibrahim, various film personalities, guests who have an autistic relative, and fellow community members who were there to support the cause. It was heart-warming to see Ibrahim’s family there to support him and to bravely share their experience of overcoming their struggles.

Tamakkan founder Sana Bagersh found the documentary film very interesting as it tackled the plight and relationship of a mother and her son with autism. “Film-making is a very powerful tool that can be used to entertain and also to educate. Dedra’s film captured my heart as it showcased a sensitive yet crucial topic that needs to be addressed here in the UAE.”

The movie screening was followed by a Q&A session where Dedra L. Stevenson, the executive producer, along with the Director Sara Al Hashemi, Creative Director Sheikha Bin Jarsh, and Ibrahim’s nurses, Arden Kristoffer Onayan and Mark Vincent Salazar. They answered questions on what the struggles were in their life to come to where they are now, what more could be done to help other families in similar situations, and how people could help in making such families feel welcome and at ease in public spaces.

When asked why she waited this long to show this story, Dedra Stevenson, said it was something that had been in the back of her mind for a while but it was brought out when Ibrahim’s former nurse Kaleb Habtamu, told her about a boy he met in the Al Thiqa Club. “These guys need a reason to wake up every morning just like all of us do. We go to jobs, we go to schools, we go to exercise, and all that so what about them? They need purpose”, said Dedra.

About Tamakkan:

Tamakkan is an initiative aimed at nurturing entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation. Established in June 2009 by BrandMoxie, a leading advertising and marketing company in the UAE, Tamakkan support s the growth of SMEs and startups by providing access to information and networking, as well as promoting innovation, best practices and corporate social responsibility to corporations and institutions. The initiative has steadily grown into a powerful knowledge sharing and training platform that has contributed to the development of the local economy. www.tamakkan.com

The Smovies #BornToChallenge Winner now screening at VOX Cinemas

Abu Dhabi, UAE –The winning film of the Smovies’ fifth season is Vasilis Blioumis “Walking With You” which has started screening at VOX Cinemas across the UAE, Oman and Lebanon. The film, which focuses on how a woman bravely battles breast cancer, beat a shortlist of 24 films.

The Smovies, which was launched in 2014 by BrandMoxie, a leading marketing firm in the UAE, is aimed at encouraging budding filmmakers and identifying emerging talent. The competition, with VOX Cinemas as strategic partners, is open to students, amateurs and professionals, whose submissions are one minute long short films shot with a camera or smart phone.

The fifth season’s theme, “Born to Challenge,” attracted submissions from across the country. It was supported by Infiniti of Arabian Automobiles in Dubai and the US Embassy Abu Dhabi. Previous Smovies challenges included one on cinema etiquette, and the others were titled “The Message”, “Why I Love UAE”, and “I Have a Dream”.

Sana Bagersh, founder of The Smovies praised the quality of submissions, and said that Blioumis’ film was chosen by The Smovies’ jury because of the delicate way it handled a difficult subject. “It’s a moving film and the actors do a magnificent job. A disease like cancer is devastating on many levels, but in this film Blioumis beautifully portrays a woman who comes to term with herself even as her looks change and people around her see her differently,” said Bagersh

The new season has kicked off with the theme “Giving,” reflecting the announcement by HH President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed’s declaring 2017 the year of giving.

Bagersh said the new theme provides broad flexibility for storytellers and has the potential to be adapted into beautiful film on the big screen. “There’s just so much raw untapped talent that we’re very optimistic that we’ll see some great content.”

Film submissions for the new season run through to April 2017. The shortlisted entries will be judged by The Smovies’ jury of film experts: Emirati actor Mansoor Al Feeli (Zinzana), Khaled Al Mahmoud (Sabeel) and Nujoom Al Ghanem (Red, Blue, Yellow), award winning scriptwriter Imad Deiratany, as well as filmmaking instructors and veterans David Moore, Greg Unrau, Mohannad Al Bakri, Dahlia Mahmoud and Michelle Nickelson. All submissions are uploaded to the platform’s own website www.thesmovies.com.

###

Media Inquiries: Neil Bie Email: events@oquezo.com Tel: 02-4918624

 

ABOUT
The Smovies

The Smovies is a short film creation platform that has been launched by BrandMoxie, a leading media group in the UAE involved in marketing, publishing and events. The Smovies is intended to provide an opportunity for emerging filmmakers, by offering recognition and exposure through the platform. The Smovies also embraces new technologies, and promotes the film making capabilities of phones, tablets and other everyday communication terminals. The competitions roll out across three seasons: April to June, July to September and October to December. Other film competitions will focus on narrative and national themes. BrandMoxie’s CSR initiatives include Tempo, a community focused magazine, Tamakkan, an entrepreneurship and innovation platform, and The Dream Players, a programme that supports the performing arts. BrandMoxie is based in twofour54, Park Rotana Complex, Abu Dhabi UAE  www.thesmovies.com www.brandmoxie.com www.tamakkan.com

Please follow us on:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkrdyWbAb408Gh0IzKekb1g

https://twitter.com/thesmovies

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Smovies/1599189056984472
About the U.S. Embassy

U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi is dedicated to strengthening US-UAE partnerships in diplomacy, commerce, trade, regional security, education, art and culture. The Embassy engages with a wide range of local partners to encourage broader and deeper understanding between the people of the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

 

 

Flash Fiction Awards Ceremony hails UAE Universities’ Top Fiction Writers

The Flash Fiction Reading and Writing Awards celebrate short fiction written and performed by university students in the UAE. The event, which is organized by BrandMoxie, was held at their offices in twofour54, and was sponsored by New York University’s Literature and Creative Writing Program. Top winners won a creative residency at Art Hub in Liwa.

 

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Supporting the UAE’s Year of Reading, top writers and readers from different universities in the UAE were recognized at The Flash Fiction Reading and Writing Awards yesterday.

 

The event was organized by BrandMoxie in collaboration with The New York University Abu Dhabi. The awards ceremony was held at BrandMoxie’s office in twofour54.

 

Contestants submitted “Flash Fiction” entries composed of less than 750 words, on the theme of “Separation”. Submissions were received from different universities and 16 were selected as finalists for performance at the award events.

 

Winners were separated in two categories: Best Story and Best Dramatic Reading. The first place was a tie between Aliyah Al Awadhi of Zayed University with her story “After Alice” and NYUAD’s Hannah C Taylor with the piece: “A Notable Life”. In second place was the piece “Eternal Separation” by NYUAD’s Jaewon Yoo while third place went to “Cement” by Rasha H Shraim of NYUAD.

 

Honorable mentions went to Leen Albijawi of Zayed University for “Weib”, Supriya Kamath of NYUAD for “Neverland”, and Riva Razdan of NYUAD for “Dancing Through Life”.

 

The evening also recognized three winners for the Dramatic Reading category which was judged live at the event. Supriya Kamath’s “Neverland” bagged the first place for Best Dramatic Reading, while second place went to Andrew Wani Modi of NYUAD for his piece “Goodbye Dad.” In third place was Nadia Ghaleb Ali Saleh Albreiki of UAE University for “Separation Anxiety”.

 

The competition’s jury members were Faisal al Yafei, columnist at The National; Brione LaThrop, instructor at Zayed University; Andrew Keir, writer and adjunct lecturer, Higher Colleges of Technology; and Kamila Anwar, psychotherapist and artist from New York University in Abu Dhabi.

 

Jim Savio, Senior Lecturer of The Writing Program in New York University Abu Dhabi said: “These writers have stepped out into the stream of their imagination and took that bold step of facing the blank page and filled them up with their ideas. What we just witnessed here was the amazing vibe as you hear the voices and sentiments of each story in the spoken form.”

 

During the event, Faisal Al Yafei, columnist at The National shared inspiring words for the young writers. “What this event shows is the amount of talent there is in all of the universities across the United Arab Emirates. And I think we should all be proud that at such young ages, you have managed to captivate both us as judges, and captivate each other as part of the audience.” said Al Yafei.

 

Sana Bagersh, CEO of BrandMoxie, who organized the event said, “This event is inspired by the Arabian tradition of the ‘hakawati’ – it is an old practice but one that is more critical now than ever. Our aim through this is to reinforce the importance of storytelling – more so now in the digital age where everything is fleeting and diluted.”

 

The winners of the competitions will enjoy a writing residency at The Art Hub Abu Dhabi. All shortlisted stories will be published in Tempo magazine.

 

For press inquiries, contact Neil Bie at prbrandmoxie.com or on 055 831 5298.

 

About BrandMoxie

BrandMoxie is a leading advertising and marketing agency that provides integrated marketing services including advertising, PR, strategy, research, publishing and production services. Established in 2004, BrandMoxie also runs its own CSR platforms. This includes Tamakkan, an initiative aimed at nurturing entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation, and the Dream Players, a programme aimed at nurturing creativity and the performing arts. BrandMoxie is also the publisher of Tempo magazine, a publication that focuses on creativity, innovation and social enterprise. www.brandmoxie.com

 

About New York University Abu Dhabi

NYU Abu Dhabi consists of a highly selective liberal arts and science college (including engineering), and a world center for advanced research and scholarship — all fully integrated with each other and connected to NYU in New York. Together, NYU’s campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai form the backbone of a unique global network university, with faculty and students from each campus spending “semesters away” at one or more of the numerous study-abroad sites NYU maintains on six continents. http://nyuad.nyu.edu

Vox brings short films back into cinemas

Chris Newbould July 9, 2015

Vox cinemas is set to give audiences a blast from the past this weekend when it revives the tradition of screening short films before the main feature. The films are the winning entries from the Smovies competition, run in partnership with Brand Moxie. A total of seven films will receive airtime thanks to the competition, headed up by overall winner Faisal Hashmi’s The Spartan Surprise. Sadly, to the best of our knowledge, the renaissance won’t be accompanied by an intermission with Wurlitzer organ and ice cream salesgirls in full fifties regalia.

The contestants ranged from students to professional and amateur filmmakers, who each submitted a 45-second short clip. Awards for the competition include a grand prize of Dh 10,000 and runner-up prizes of cinema vouchers and other gifts. The main prize for the filmmakers was the opportunity to have their Smovies screened in VOX Cinemas in the UAE.

The jury of The Smovies included Emirati directors Nawaf Al Janahi, Khaled Al Mahmoud and Nujoom Al Ghanem, as well as filmmaking instructors and veterans David Moore, Greg Unrau, Mohannad al Bakri and Michelle Nickelson.

The second season of The Smovies, has been launched and will be a narrative challenge themed “The Message” or #SmoviesMessage, and entries submission is open. The deadline for Season 2 is August 15. See www.thesmovies.com for details.

Link: http://www.thenational.ae/blogs/scene-heard/vox-brings-short-films-back-into-cinemas

Raytheon International Inc. joins AmCham Abu Dhabi ‘WOMEN ACHIEVE’ Initiative

http://ameinfo.com/finance-and-economy/sme/entrepreneurship/raytheon-international-inc-joins-amcham-abu-dhabi-women-achieve-initiative/

Raytheon reassures its commitment to provide a work environment that is favorable to women’s development
AmCham Abu Dhabi announces that Raytheon International Inc. has become the latest signatory of WOMEN ACHIEVE, an innovative program established by its Women in Business Committee that promotes the professional advancement of women.
The program was developed to encourage companies and organizations to give women more opportunities to advance their careers by offering them positions of greater responsibility and leadership.
Raytheon is now the 38th organization that has joined an expanding list of leading companies that support the WOMEN ACHIEVE initiative including Accenture, AECOM, Al Noor Hospitals Group, AMIDEAST, Bechtel, BrandMoxie, Boeing, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, ExxonMobil, Institute of Management Accountants Middle East, Lockheed Martin Global Inc., Mubadala GE Capital, New York Institute of Technology, Northrop Grumman, Olgoonik Global Security, Parsons, Squire Patton Boggs LLP, and others.
As a supporter of the WOMEN ACHIEVE program, Raytheon reassures its commitment to provide a work environment that is favorable to women’s development by empowering women to refine their leadership skills and flourish in their respective jobs and areas of expertise. Moreover, Raytheon pledges to provide greater opportunities for women’s participation in training and career advancement.
“Our company strongly values the diversity of our global workforce around the world as a proven means to delivering success for our customers,” said Christopher J. Davis, President, Raytheon International Inc., in the U.A.E. “We are proud to support the AmCham Women Achieve initiative to help advance women in business, and spur new ideas and innovations for the U.A.E. in the global marketplace,” he added.
Bob Harward, Chairman of AmCham Abu Dhabi, commented, “We are delighted to have Raytheon sign WOMEN ACHIEVE. AmCham Abu Dhabi is proud to support innovative initiatives, such as WOMEN ACHIEVE, that foster positive change in the business community and realize the full capacity of talent available to grow industry.”
Established in January 2013, WOMEN ACHIEVE emphasizes seven key ideals, which direct companies towards acquiring a supportive work environment for the professional advancement of women. These ideals include encouraging women to grow through training, shadowing, coaching, mentorship and internship programs, as well as considering female candidates for new opportunities and the support of ‘rising stars’ into leadership positions. WOMEN ACHIEVE also encourages the induction of women to serve on boards of various organizations and advocates the importance of fair remuneration for female employees.
Participation in WOMEN ACHIEVE is open to entities of all sizes. Companies that are interested can elect to become signatories by contacting AmCham Abu Dhabi. In addition, WOMEN ACHIEVE signatories receive a certificate of acknowledgement from AmCham Abu Dhabi for their support and are eligible to use the WOMEN ACHIEVE seal on their communication collateral.