Goumbook announced today the continuation of its collaboration with the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation (AGF) as implementation partner for the Sustainability Track within Takween Al Ghurair, AGF’s national youth enrichment programme entering its third year.
Designed and led by AGF, Takween Al Ghurair provides after-school and extracurricular learning opportunities that help Emirati youth build academic confidence, life skills and future-ready capabilities. The programme includes multiple enrichment pathways, with the sustainability component delivered by Goumbook serving as one track within a broader model that supports youth development across the Emirates.
In Year Three, the Sustainability Track will engage 800 Emirati youth aged 14–18 through interactive workshops and experiential learning. Participants will deepen their understanding of key themes including the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), food security, circular economy, sustainable fashion, biodiversity, water stewardship, indoor air quality and ocean conservation. Two new experiential pathways, Sustainability Explorers and Sustainability Challengers, will guide students from awareness to real-world application, enabling them to design and implement sustainability projects that respond to community needs.
Since the start of the collaboration under Takween Al Ghurair, sustainability activities delivered through Goumbook have reached more than 600 students across six Emirates. Evaluations show clear learning gains and strong relevance to students’ future pathways, reinforcing the programme’s role in shaping informed, confident youth leaders.
“Takween Al Ghurair reflects AGF’s belief that young people thrive when they are given opportunities beyond the classroom to discover their strengths and apply their learning,” said Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafar. “We work with partners selected for their ability to meet the program’s standards of depth, relevance and impact, and Goumbook brings that capability to the sustainability track. These activities form one part of a wider enrichment model designed to prepare youth for the responsibilities and opportunities of the UAE’s long-term vision. Our aim is to cultivate capable, confident young leaders who understand both their agency and their commitment to the community.”
Tatiana Antonelli Abella, Founder and Managing Director at Goumbook, said:“At Goumbook, we have long championed the intersection of sustainability education and youth-led action. For over 16 years, our work has translated awareness into measurable impact, equipping the next generation to lead with purpose and resilience. Now in its third year, Takween Al Ghurair—in partnership with the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation—advances this mission by engaging 800 Emirati youth in experiential learning, project design, and community leadership. By empowering young people to conceptualize, implement, and evaluate sustainability initiatives within their own environments, we are not only fostering agency—we are catalyzing systemic change. This is where Goumbook’s vision becomes reality: when transformation is youth-driven, locally grounded, and globally relevant.”
“Takween Al Ghurair reflects AGF’s belief that young people thrive when they are given opportunities beyond the classroom to discover their strengths and apply their learning,” said Dr. Sonia Ben Jaafar, CEO of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation. “We work with partners selected for their ability to meet the program’s standards of depth, relevance and impact, and Goumbook brings that capability to the sustainability track. These activities form one part of a wider enrichment model designed to prepare youth for the responsibilities and opportunities of the UAE’s long-term vision. Our aim is to cultivate capable, confident young leaders who understand both their agency and their commitment to the community.”
Students are already demonstrating the program’s impact. “The sessions showed me that sustainability is not only environmental, it is also economic and social,” said Latifa Abdallah, a participant in the Sustainability Series. “I’ve started reducing waste and avoiding plastic because I now understand how small actions matter.”
Teachers echo this transformation. “Goumbook’s engaging approach has empowered our learners to become true sustainability champions,” said Ms. Heba Nouir, Sustainability Lead at Al Rayaheen Charter School.
Together, these voices illustrate how Takween Al Ghurair is cultivating a generation of youth who are informed, confident, and ready to contribute to the UAE’s sustainability goals.
