"Growth" Program concludes "Digital economy and self-employment skills"

Sharjah, May 25 / WAM / The Nama Foundation for the Advancement of Women celebrated the graduation of 31 participants within the “Digital Economy Skills and Self-Employment” programme, which was organized for the first time at the “Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park” with the aim of enhancing women’s readiness to enter the fields of the digital economy and self-employment and to develop independent businesses based on modern skills in various sectors including technology, fashion, health, sustainability, tourism, and digital services.

The program concluded with final presentations during which the participants presented their work before a specialized jury, where the presentations reflected their ability to transform ideas into scalable initial business models, and link them to the needs of the market and the requirements of the new economy.

Her Excellency Maryam Al Hammadi, Director General of the Nama Foundation for the Advancement of Women, said that the world today is witnessing an accelerated transformation in the nature of work and income models, with the expansion of the digital economy and the increasing reliance on flexible skills and independent work, noting that this transformation is not related to technology only, but rather to the ability of individuals to adapt, build a clear professional presence, and transform knowledge and skill into economic opportunities that are viable for growth and continuity.

She added, from this standpoint, Namaa was keen for the program to provide a practical experience that would enable participants to understand the mechanisms of work in this new reality, not only by learning digital tools, but also by developing the way of thinking about the project, understanding the needs of the market, building a sustainable relationship with customers, and transforming ideas into initial, scalable business models. What we witnessed in the final outputs reflects the importance of investing in applied skills that give women a greater ability to build a more flexible and independent career path.

The works presented by the participants reflected a clear ability to link ideas to market needs and formulate scalable initial business models.

These businesses have diversified to include the sectors of technology, health, fashion, food, sustainability and heritage, tourism, and gifts.

Among these works is a digital platform that connects students and academics with investors to transform academic research into existing projects, in addition to a specialized project in the field of healthy foods, and a community platform for exchanging used possessions through a points system aimed at reducing waste.

The projects also included a digital platform for organizing and booking tourist and educational tours in Sharjah, a project for handicrafts inspired by traditional crafts with modern designs, a consulting project concerned with mental health and community well-being, in addition to a platform for gifts related to self-development and digital motivational content, in addition to a local platform for immediate home maintenance services that relies on organizing services and raising the efficiency of the user experience.

At the conclusion of the program, Namaa honored the jury members, and the participants received graduation certificates from the PricewaterhouseCoopers Academy, which enhances the professional value of the experience and supports their path in developing their digital businesses and engaging in the fields of self-employment with a clearer and more professional methodology.

The program comes within Namaa Foundation’s direction to develop practical initiatives that enhance women’s economic participation through specialized training and building digital and professional skills, keeping pace with labor market transformations and enhancing women’s presence in the new economy sectors.

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