Abu Dhabi DCD Honours Wyakom Winners for 2025 Community

The Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development (DCD) has honoured the winning projects of the fourth cycle of the Wyakom initiative, after the judging phase ended and finalist ideas were presented to a specialised committee.

This cycle received strong community participation, with 199 ideas and projects submitted by individuals from different age groups. The submissions were grouped under three main themes: Growth, Prosperity, and Leadership.

The winning projects were recognised for supporting Wyakom’s goal of bringing practical and sustainable community solutions that improve quality of life in Abu Dhabi. The initiative also aligns with the priorities of the Year of Community 2025. DCD said the platform reflects its commitment to social innovation by supporting impactful ideas, turning them into real community projects, addressing challenges, empowering different segments of society, and strengthening social cohesion and sustainability.

Four Projects Won Across the Top Three Positions

First Place: Ask Baseera

First place was awarded to Ask Baseera, submitted by Dr Mai Mohammed. The project is a smart and secure platform designed for adolescent girls. It provides trusted health information and confidential answers to their questions, supervised by specialised female doctors. The platform aims to improve health awareness and provide psychological support during an important stage of development.

Second Place: LEGO – Empowering Youth of Determination in the UAE

Second place went to Saira Gulamani for her initiative LEGO – Empowering Youth of Determination in the UAE. The project is an educational platform that enables Emirati youth of determination to lead creative and interactive LEGO-based learning sessions for senior citizens. It supports leadership and communication skills and encourages meaningful community engagement. The award was received on her behalf by Yash Chopra.

Third Place (Joint Winners for the First Time)

For the first time in Wyakom’s history, two initiatives shared third place:

• Sanad Squad, submitted by Anya Mariam, is a weekly youth-led support circle in Abu Dhabi. It is supervised by specialised mentors and trainers in youth and adolescent development. The initiative offers safe spaces for adolescents and aims to strengthen psychological and social wellbeing while building sustainable support networks.

• Heritage with a New Voice, presented by Sara Al Nahdi and Hussain Al Mansoori, focuses on empowering people of determination to learn traditional Emirati crafts. The initiative uses innovative approaches that include sound, touch, and artificial intelligence, adapted to different auditory, visual, and mobility needs. It supports the preservation of Emirati heritage while presenting it in a modern format that connects with younger generations.

DCD Leaders Highlight Impact of Community Innovation

Dr Arif Al Hammadi, Acting Director-General of Strategic and Digital Affairs at DCD, said DCD is proud to honour the winners of the fourth cycle, noting that the awards come alongside the conclusion of the Year of Community.

He added that since Wyakom launched in 2022, the platform has remained inclusive and supports direct engagement with the community. He said implementable ideas will be studied and followed up with partners and relevant entities across sectors, with the goal of activating them and turning them into practical solutions that support a stable, prosperous, and sustainable society.

Dr Yousif Al Zaabi, Director of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at DCD, said the winners reflect the strong quality of ideas submitted in the fourth cycle. He highlighted the creativity shown by youth and children in creating solutions that improve quality of life in Abu Dhabi.

He also congratulated the winners and praised all participants, saying their contributions represent an achievement worthy of recognition.

Support for Implementation

DCD confirmed that the winning projects will receive support to move into the implementation phase, ensuring the transformation of these ideas into real initiatives that strengthen social development and promote participation and social responsibility across Abu Dhabi.

DCD also said it will continue developing the Wyakom initiative as an open platform for all community members, encouraging sustainable social solutions that create real impact and support Abu Dhabi’s future.