Abu Dhabi, May 7, 2025: Driven by its dedication to empowering Emirati social workers for the benefit of families and young children, the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) organized a graduation ceremony at Nabdh Al Falah Community Center in Abu Dhabi to recognize the inaugural cohort of 16 male and female graduates of its Social Work Upskilling Program.

The program, which features specialized training courses and offers field experience, aims to qualify Emirati social work graduates for the UAE labor market by empowering them with the theoretical and practical knowledge they need to work in this vital sector. It also facilitates the integration of new graduates into the early childhood development (ECD) workforce, bridging the gap between local universities and employers. The program ran as a pilot from August 2024 to January 2025 and the full-scale launch of the program will be implemented by the National Academy for Childhood Development.

The program’s content was developed in collaboration with United Arab Emirates University, Higher Colleges of Technology, Zayed University and Georgetown University. The program was also run in collaboration with the Department of Community Development, Family Care Authority, Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority (SSA), Taaleem, Sharjah Social Services Department and Danat Al Emarat Hospital.

In her keynote address at the graduation ceremony, HE Dr. Hessa Ali Al Kaabi, Executive Director of the Special Projects and Partnerships Sector at ECA, emphasized how the Social Work Upskilling Program is driving a qualitative leap within the social work sector. She noted the program is integral to ECA's efforts to support Abu Dhabi's ECD Strategy 2035, which aims to build a supportive and empowering community for young children.

'We recognize that the social work sector is a cornerstone of a resilient and sustainable society. These graduates have acquired critical skills that position them to significantly enhance the delivery of social services, particularly for families of young children. We are proud to have played a role, alongside our partners, in empowering them to create a real and positive influence within society,' Al Kaabi stated.

On behalf of the graduates, Zahra Al Braiki, a graduate of the Social Work Upskilling Program, said: “This program was a turning point for all of us - not only academically, but also in how we developed our practical skills. We learned how to balance empathy with professionalism, and how social work can directly transform the lives of individuals and communities. Today, we feel more equipped with knowledge, experience, and passion.”

The Social Work Upskilling Program is a part of a broader human capital development strategy that was developed to ensure Abu Dhabi has a skilled and highly qualified workforce within the ECD sector and to help ensure a generation of social workers are capable of making a positive impact on society.