BlackBerry and INJAZ UAE host STEM Innovation Camp for students

• Zabeel High School for Girls Emerge Winners among Four Schools

Dubai-UAE – BlackBerry®, in partnership with non-profit organization INJAZ UAE, a member of Junior Achievement Worldwide, recently hosted the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Innovation Camp (STEM I-Camp) at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce in Dubai.

Over 50 students from four schools participated in the STEM I-Camp.  The initiative was launched to encourage 14 - 18-year old students to consider STEM careers by raising awareness of the field's possibilities and introducing them to industry role models. The day camp included two key sessions - the morning session tasked the students with using smartphone devices to devise innovative services and solutions to everyday problems. The second part of the challenge entailed coming up with a business and communications plan that would enable the students to implement the business idea.

The winning team from Zaabeel High School for Girls - conceptualized a unique learning application that impressed judges for its ability to compete against other international Junior Achievement teams.  The application was described as ‘an idea that grows with users, learns from users and gets to be their best friend'.

Rashid Al Banna from Dubai International School (DIS) commented on the event saying: 'Today I gained knowledge, met other people, had fun, and acquired new communication skills. The INJAZ UAE's STEM workshop helped me overcome my fear of presenting before an audience. Now, I feel confident about pursuing computer software studies. I also loved having the volunteers with us. It was great.”

“BlackBerry is committed to building business leaders by supporting innovation, community development, and entrepreneurship,” said Nick Horton, Managing Director for Middle East and North Africa at BlackBerry. “We are proud to support Junior Achievement UAE's quest to develop socially responsible attitudes among business leaders and companies operating in the UAE.  Through regular STEM I-Camps, we hope to help create an environment that is appreciative of, and committed to developing business, science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills.”

The Zaabeel High School for Girls team will now compete against winning teams from other countries in an online international competition on December 4th, 2013.  An international jury formed by BlackBerry representatives will review the proposals and interview each team online during the final, with the winning team to be announced on December 5, 2013. The winners will receive a BlackBerry student accessories pack including a Q5 specialized case, external battery pack, mini-speaker, BlackBerry branded clothing, headphones, leather notebook and more.

Sulaf al-Zu'bi, CEO, INJAZ UAE, added: “This was the second year we partnered on the STEM I-Camp and the results were just as astonishing as last year. The event once again brought in all the great elements of committed volunteers, ideas and interaction.  I'm really proud of the winning team from Zaabeel High School for Girls.  It sends a message to young female students that science and math can be integrated into their everyday learning and life in a fun way.  This event makes such things possible.”
 
The winning team from the previous I-camp in Spring went on to participate in the Junior Achievement global final held at Brussels in June 2013, alongside students from Nigeria, Spain, Italy, India, Thailand, Argentina, China, Sweden, Mexico, Malaysia, South Africa, Columbia and Indonesia.