Volunteering and Community Outreach
At NYU Abu Dhabi, we develop mutually beneficial partnerships to foster a deep commitment to civic engagement and service. We design service and community-based learning opportunities for students that promote meaningful community involvement, embrace the rich diversity of the UAE, and cultivate ethical and inclusive leadership.
We endeavor to strengthen local, regional, and global communities through advising, supporting, and empowering students who are driven by social purpose, what we call ‘NYUAD Heart’.
A Vibrant Contributor
We strive to be a vibrant contributor to members of the NYUAD and UAE communities by:
- providing NYUAD students with professional training and work experience using inclusive, thoughtful, and innovative out-of-the-classroom experiences, which encourage the development of global leadership skills
- providing resources, talent, and mentorship opportunities to organizations and community members seeking to engage NYUAD students
- designing avenues for NYUAD students to give back to the UAE community through civic engagement, public service, and research
- highlighting the mutual benefits of philanthropy and civic engagement to both students and organizations to maximize the effectiveness and breadth of the community service experience
Signature Outreach Programs
As part of NYUAD’s commitment to support the development of a more inclusive society, NYUAD students participate in a variety of volunteer programs related to special needs.
As part of NYUAD’s commitment to support the development of a more inclusive society, our students participate in a variety of volunteer programs related to special needs.
Some of the programs include:
- The Inclusion Conference
- Special Needs Adaptive Program (SNAP) Basketball
- SEDRA Art Club
SNAP was the class I always looked forward to the most every week, it was a moment where I could focus on others more than myself, work with a team, and learn from everybody on the court, from the coach to the parents and from my friends and mainly the kids. This experience made me realize that sometimes the smallest actions are the ones that count the most, and that fulfill you the most at the end of the day.
NYUAD students participate in a wide range of programs focused on UAE heritage, culture and identity, including:
- volunteering with local organizations on projects focused on preserving culture and identity (e.g., Music of Crafts Exhibition)
- participating in Service-Kashtahs across the UAE to engage with Emirati culture through hands-on community service trips
- engaging in humanitarian work with a range of organizations and populations (e.g., Giving Friday, Iftar Sa’em)
- collaborating with peers at other UAE and regional universities (e.g., Palms of Giving)
Supporting Local Conservation Efforts
Driven by a shared Commitment to a Livable Planet, NYUAD students, staff, and faculty contribute to environmental conservation through several initiatives each year:
- collaborating with UAE environmental agencies and nonprofits on conservation initiatives (e.g., Mangrove Planting, Give a Ghaf)
- organizing and hosting environmental awareness events on campus and in the community (e.g., Yalla Return Recycling Drives)
- participating in research or fieldwork related to climate resilience and biodiversity (e.g., Turtle Patrol, Mangrove Planting Lab)
- engaging in cross-university collaborations on regional environmental challenges (e.g., UAE Universities Climate Network)
Youth Leadership Network
The Youth Leadership Network (previously known as the Boys' Education Network and the Girls' Education Network, respectively) is a leadership development program for high school students in Abu Dhabi. Through weekly workshops, NYU Abu Dhabi facilitators work to help young girls and boys engage, grow, and lead — with special attention placed on a different key impact area each year, as well as technical and soft skill-building for leadership. The program:
Helps participants build strong individual leadership skills, engage in team-based activities, and learn to collaborate effectively in multicultural environments.
Encourages participants to think creatively about issues faced by their communities and how to take tangible steps towards solutions.
Supports participants in learning about the importance of civic engagement within their environment.
Connects participants with NYUAD student mentors who serve as role models to support them throughout their academic journeys.
The program explores a different key local issue each year. In one project focusing on cultural preservation in the UAE, the Youth Leadership Network cohort spent five weeks developing a Capstone aimed at enhancing museum engagement at Qasr Al Hosn.
Join Our Mailing List
Register to receive updates and learn about upcoming opportunities for volunteer, social impact, or cultural engagement programs with NYU Abu Dhabi Civic Engagement and Service. Sign up for our mailing list.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please email nyuad.civic.engagement@nyu.edu.