4 Inspiring initiatives at WGS you need to know about

Within the scope of "Shaping Future Governments", the World Government Summit (WGS) was held during the period of February 13–15, 2023, in the global city of Dubai. Bringing together elite global leaders, pioneer decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and investors from more than 150 countries, the conference sought to discuss and develop solutions to global issues and matters. However, amid all the crucial activities that took place in the WGS, inspiring initiatives succeeded in finding a way to exist in the global forum. Here are four inspiring initiatives you need to know about:

·????????“Before we begin, let’s have a moment of silence” - Mohammad Al Gergawi

At the very beginning of the conference and just before the first talk, Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the World Government Summit Foundation, asked the attendees to stand silently for one minute in remembrance of the victims who lost their lives in the horrible earthquake that recently happened in Turkey and Syria. In a generous gesture, the forum's audiences reflected that the entire world stands with the victims of the earthquake's aftermath.

·????????A unique café participation:

The Bee café, the UAE’s first coffee shop to be entirely run by people of determination, made a splash at the WGS by attracting attendees not just with great coffee but also with the high spirits of the baristas. The story began when the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination joined forces with the World Coffee Organization to launch a program aimed at bringing out talented potentials in the coffee industry by intensively training determined people with great gifts to become professional coffee makers. The intensive training which lasted up to 6 months, resulted in the establishment of the Bee Café in the UAE. However, a great achievement was recently added to the Bee Café's list of successes with its participation in one of the world’s major events, WGS. Yet, the story didn’t end at this point; the Bee Café made a splash when Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, visited the café’s booth and gave words of encouragement and motivation to those in charge of the café, who excelled in hosting the guests of the forum by preparing special coffee that’s made with love.

Sustainability trees as memorable giveaways:

In a surprising, magnificent way, the World Government Summit ended. At the end of the last talk, Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, surprised the attendees by giving away palm tree shoots to everyone who attended the forum. This generous initiative reflected the vision of shaping a sustainable future that is based on developing a healthy ecosystem for generations to come. The Minister stated that, outside the hall, every guest will find a palm shoot, especially for them, that is waiting to be planted. Adding that Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's founding father and the primary driving factor behind its inception, used to love palm trees, and so, the minister asked the audience to plant the palms and take good care of them.

·????????“May I have the honor to take a photo with you?”

Unexpectedly, this request was not addressed to a VIP or a country president; in fact, it was the opposite. The story started when passionate individuals sought to volunteer to participate in organizing one of the world’s major events, WGS. However, a six-month intensive training program was held in order to qualify professional cadres to organize and oversee every detail of this global conference. Eventually, on the last day of the WGS, while Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, the former Deputy Ruler of Dubai, was making a tour at the headquarters of the forum, he stopped by a group of volunteers organizing the summit. He began conversing with them, addressing them with words of thankfulness and gratitude. Eventually, Hamdan asked if he could have the honor to take a photo with the organizers, because none of the achievements would have been possible without their tireless work and great efforts.

See you in the next World Government Summit!