Designing and delivering a youth empowerment program that prepares middle and high school students to be future-ready innovators and agents of change for Ajman 2030.
The Concept
How do you inspire a generation of young people to feel ownership over the future of their city? The Government of Ajman commissioned Bon Education to answer exactly that question. The result was the AJYAL Schools Program. The program introduced high school students to the key industries driving Ajman's economy and challenged them to prototype real solutions in response to opportunities and needs in their community. Delivered in 2025, the program exceeded every target set engaging more than twice the anticipated number of students and generated nearly 200 passion projects across over 30 schools.
Industry
Government / Education / Youth Development
Goal
Creating a unique, scalable program aligned with Ajman 2030 that builds future-ready skills in middle and high school students, deepens their connection to the Emirate's key industries, and nurtures a generation of young leaders committed to contributing to Ajman's growth.
Services
Program Strategy & Research, Program Design, Curriculum Development, Learning Platform Development, Teacher Training, Recruitment, Program Delivery, Reporting
Impact
1000+ students engaged and 190+ passion projects submitted from 30+ schools
The Opportunity
Ajman's Vision 2030 calls for a future built on innovation, sustainability, and a new generation of empowered, globally aware Emirati leaders.
The Government of Ajman needed a program that would do more than inform - it needed to inspire. The challenge was to build something genuinely unique: a youth program that would engage students across both government and private schools, bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world innovation, and cultivate national pride and civic ambition in equal measure.
Our approach
Bon Education led the full lifecycle of the program, from strategy through to delivery and final reporting, designing an experience built around four core goals: empowering youth, enhancing employability, fostering global awareness, and nurturing national identity.
Program Design & Curriculum
At the heart of the program was a single, powerful challenge statement put to every student: "Create a prototype of something that you think should exist in Ajman but doesn't. Show and tell us why it should exist!"
Teacher Training & Capacity Building
Recognizing that teachers are the engine of any school-based program, Bon Education trained 100+ educators across 30+ schools, equipping them with the resources, mentorship strategies, and platform access needed to guide students through the project development process.
Hybrid Delivery Model
The program combined ten online sessions with five in-person events. Industry experts from organizations including MBZUAI, AECOM, EY, and Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Centre were featured to expose youth to working professionals that are at the forefront of critical UAE industries.
Industry Visits
Top students were rewarded with inspirational field visits to Ajman Port and Ajman Free Zone, where they explored live operations and connected their project ideas to the actual economic infrastructure of their Emirate.
Passion Project Competitions & Mentorship
Shortlisted teams received in-person project development and mentorship sessions. The program culminated in a final showcase event at the Ajman Youth Hub, attended by H.E. Saeed Almatrooshi, Secretary General of the Ajman Executive Council, where 18 winning students presented projects including an AI-powered tourism assistant, a deep seawater cooling energy complex, and a smart city environmental monitoring system.
The Results
1,000+ Students Engaged
Spanning both government and private institutions, Emirati nationals and resident expats.
190+ Passion Projects Submitted
Showcasing student-led innovations across AI, urban design, sustainability, health, and other critical sectors of the Ajman economy.
All Program Targets Exceeded
Across students, projects, schools, and student awards, the program surpassed every metric set at the outset.
More
Projects
Empowering Youth to Explore Critical Industries for the Future
Collaborating with regional governments and leading organizations to ensure a steady pipeline of talent for priority industries in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Bridging the Gap Between University and Employment
Supporting graduates in securing employment through workforce readiness training, career coaching, and industry experience projects.
Creating a Pipeline of Design Talent for the Region
Architecting the GCC’s largest high school design education program with the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation.
Delivering a World-Class Graduate Program
Designing and delivering a world-class decade-long program that transforms top global graduates into leaders and lifelong ambassadors for Dubai.
