press releases

The camp, which was sold out within 24 hours of registration opening, introduces children aged 9 to 12 years old to a wide array of media, allowing them to explore the skills needed for a successful career, especially in the creative industries.

The third edition of the annual programme has new sessions presented by the Abu Dhabi Youth Council, the Special Olympic World Games Abu Dhabi 2019, MajidTV, Kids Unplugged, and Toaster Productions. It also includes the return of some of the most interactive and successful sessions from earlier editions presented by twofour54 partners such as CNN, and the Korean Culture Centre.

Children attending will have exclusive access to some of the industry’s leading talent, such as CNN Abu Dhabi’s Managing Director Becky Anderson. They will be taken on a tour of the broadcaster’s studios and try their hand at reporting the news themselves. In another session, they will meet the team behind popular children’s show ‘Iftah Ya Simsim’ – and even have the opportunity to appear on camera with the characters.

This year, the opening day of the camp was particularly special as it fell on July 15 – a date that has been designated by the United Nations General Assembly as World Youth Skills Day to raise awareness on the importance of investing in youth skills and development. The twofour54 Summer Camp is just one of the many ways that Abu Dhabi’s media sector is ensuring young talent in the Emirate is being spotted and nurtured and that the youth are being equipped with the soft and hard skills they need to fulfil their potential.

H.E. Maryam Eid AlMheiri, CEO of Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi and twofour54, said: “Developing local young talent is one of our top priorities as we build a sustainable media sector in Abu Dhabi. The future is literally in their hands.

“The summer camp is an example of how we are doing this, along with other initiatives such as internships and our creative lab community. The work we do with youth is changing perceptions of the industry in many ways by showing the wide range of opportunities that exist within media. It is also important that we educate our youth on the role media plays in preserving our culture and identity, and ensure they have the right skills to be a part of this mission in the future.”

The twofour54 Summer Camp is bilingual and integrates a mix of learning and entertainment using interactive sessions within various media-related disciplines. The sessions are run by twofour54 staff, partners and creative lab members, each bringing their own unique talents, creativity and enthusiasm from the twofour54 community.

H.E. AlMheiri thanked the participating partners, saying: “It is testament to the collaborative nature of our media community that so many twofour54 partners are volunteering their time to help these young people experience the thrill of working in media. Their passion and energy are contagious as they help these youngsters take their first step on their road to becoming the next generation of storytellers.”

Children attending the summer camp will have the opportunity to work with creative lab talent, in the hope of joining twofour54’s 13,000-strong youth community in the future. The lab offers the chance to volunteer on live projects, gain experience while working with industry experts, and learn from twofour54 partners via workshops, projects and competitions. Any community member can also use #thelab space to brainstorm, share ideas or simply hang out. It features workstations, editing suites, sound suite and chill out zones.

The summer camp has proven so popular that twofour54 is looking at holding a second camp later in the year. Those interested can register their interest at twofour54.com/summercamp.

Back to news press listing