SPARK Workshop | Student Guide

Joining instructions for SPARK Workshop | 2nd February 2026 | 11:30 to 16:30

What students need to know

You’ve been invited to take part in the SPARK Workshop powered by Global Social Leaders (GSL) – a half-day experience bringing together students from across GEMS schools to explore leadership, teamwork and social action.

SPARK is about discovering what matters to you, working with others and realising that your ideas have value.

Event details

  • Date: Monday 2 February 2026

  • Time: 11:30–16:30

  • Venue: GEMS School of Research & Innovation (SRI), Dubai

  • Lunch: Provided at 1:15pm

You’ll attend with a teacher from your school and your school will remain responsible for you throughout the day.

What to expect

During the workshop, you will:

  • work with students from other GEMS schools

  • take part in interactive activities and discussions

  • explore issues you care about

  • develop early ideas for positive change

You don’t need to be an expert, a “leader”, or confident speaking in front of others.

Come curious, be kind and give ideas a go.

At the end of the workshop, you’ll be invited (but not required) to take part in the SPARK Challenge, where you can choose to take your idea further in your school or community.

What to bring

Please bring:

  • a refillable water bottle

  • a photo (printed) or small object that matters to you (something that fits in your pocket or bag)

    • the item should represent something you care about, an issue you feel connected to, or a place, person or experience that has shaped you.  This will be used to help you to connect personally to the day, practise sharing ideas and explore what motivates you as leaders.

    • for example: a photo of family or friends, a badge, a keyring, a small book, a symbol of something you care about

  • a small bag only, if needed

You may also bring a nut-free snack if you wish. Lunch and water refill stations will be available.

We will provide, pens, paper and everything you need to participate.

On the day

  • We envisage you would attend in school uniform, however it is your schools choice what you wear

  • You’ll receive a SPARK GSL T-shirt – you’re welcome to wear it, but it’s optional on the day and you are invited to take away and wear when implementing your SPARK Challenge.  You may want to bring a top with long sleeves which you can wear underneath.

  • You’ll receive a lanyard at registration

    • if you don’t wish to be included in photos or videos, or your school has shared you don’t have consent to have your photo taken, you will be allocated a yellow lanyard

Phones should be kept away during sessions unless facilitators invite you to use.

Staff may need to use their phones to keep in touch about the operations of the programme, however we will be encouraging everyone to be present in the room.

Photos and filming

This is a high-profile educational event. Photos and videos will be taken during the day.
Your preferences will be respected using the lanyard system.

Let your teacher or the GSL Coaches know if you have any concerns or would like to change your lanyard.

How to show up

You don’t need to have all the answers.

Bring your ideas, your questions and your curiosity.

SPARK is about discovering your spark — and seeing how small ideas can grow into real change.

We can’t wait to welcome you.

Please read below information about the event and what it is a part of.  We have GSL Coaches from the UK and Global Teacher Prize Ambassadors from around the world, who are coming to Dubai to inspire you.

We can’t wait, and hope you are as excited as we are! 

If you have any questions please ask your teacher or email our team: spark.gsl@future-foundations.co.uk

SPARK Workshop & Challenge

Unlocking the Power of Young Changemakers

Global Social Leaders (GSL) is proud to be powering the SPARK Workshop & Challenge, launching as part of SPARK.Dubai 2026, a global education initiative hosted by the Varkey Foundation.

Taking place on 2 February 2026 at the GEMS School of Research & Innovation, the SPARK Workshop will bring together students from across GEMS schools for a high-energy, half-day experience focused on leadership, collaboration and social action.

The programme will be delivered by a team of five Global Social Leaders coaches from the UK, who deliver youth leadership and social action programmes worldwide. They will be supported by Global Teacher Prize Ambassadors, creating a powerful learning environment that connects students, educators and global changemakers.

Students will collaborate across schools, explore issues they care about, and develop early-stage ideas for positive change. Following the workshop, participants will be invited to complete the SPARK Challenge, an independent social action project supported with light-touch guidance and resources.

We have been delighted by the strong response from GEMS schools, reflecting a shared commitment to empowering young people as leaders and changemakers.

The initiative will also involve GEMS Youth Parliamentarians, who will act as peer mentors during the workshop and continue to inspire students as they take their ideas forward back in school.

Jonathan Harper FRSA, Co-Founder of Global Social Leaders, said:

The SPARK Workshop will give young people the confidence to realise their ideas matter and that they can play an active role in shaping a positive change in the world.  I am looking forward to meeting the students and hearing their ideas and seeing how they develop.  We are delighted to be supporting the design and delivery of the inaugural SPARK Challenge working in partnership with Varkey Foundation.

SPARK sits within the wider context of SPARK.Dubai 2026, a one-day conference that will explore ways to unlock the transformative power of the world’s schools.

The 24 schools taking part are as follows:

  • The Cambridge High School Abu Dhabi
  • GEMS Dubai American Academy
  • GEMS FirstPoint School The Villa
  • GEMS Founders School Al Mizhar
  • GEMS Founders School Dubai
  • GEMS International School Al Khail
  • GEMS Metropole School Al Waha
  • GEMS Metropole School Motor City
  • GEMS Modern Academy
  • GEMS Our Own English High School Dubai
  • GEMS Our Own Indian School
  • GEMS Royal Dubai School
  • GEMS Wellington International School
  • GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi
  • GEMS World Academy Dubai
  • Jumeirah College
  • Our Own English High School Sharjah
  • Our Own High School Al Warqa’a
  • The Millennium School
  • The Westminster School Dubai
  • The Winchester School Jebel Ali
  • GEMS School of Research and Innovation
  • GEMS Millennium School Sharjah
  • GEMS Founders School Dubai South

We are excited to have 9 Global Teacher Prize Ambassadors supporting the workshop: 

  • Anh Phuong Ha, Global Teacher Prize Finalist (Vietnam)
  • ⁠David Swanston, Global Teacher Prize Finalist (UK)
  • ⁠Evans Odei, Global Teacher Prize Finalist (Ghana)
  • ⁠Hiba Ballout, Global Teacher Prize Finalist (Lebanon)
  • ⁠Jane Chikapa, Global Teacher Prize Finalist (Malawi)
  • ⁠Kirsten Cuppen, Global Teacher Prize Fincliase (Netherlands)
  • ⁠Mariette Wheeler, Global Teacher Prize 2023 Finalist (South Africa)
  • ⁠Peter Tabichi, Global Teacher Prize Winner 2019 (Kenya)
  • ⁠Shawn Adler, Global Teacher Prize Finalist (USA)

We are delighted to have 5 of our team leading the workshop in Dubai:

  • Jonathan Harper
  • Andy Dunn
  • Shenel Shefik
  • Juliette Noske
  • Mark Corbett

We look forward to sharing further updates about the workshop and the challenge.

For further information about the event, email: spark.gsl@future-foundations.co.uk