On 2 February 2026, Global Social Leaders proudly powered the inaugural SPARK Workshop & Challenge launched as part of SPARK.Dubai 2026, a global education initiative hosted by the Varkey Foundation, at the GEMS School of Research & Innovation (SRI) in Dubai.
We brought together young people from across the GEMS Education network for an inspiring half-day experience of leadership, collaboration and social action.
The SPARK Workshop marked the launch of the SPARK Social Action Challenge, a follow-on challenge inviting students to take forward a small, meaningful action in their own school or community. With light-touch support, resources and check-ins from the Global Social Leaders team, students are now continuing their journey, turning inspiration into action.
STUDENT’S BLOG
Throughout the challenge, we are inviting students to share their journey and progress.
This blog is from Ahmad, a student leader at The Westminster School Dubai. After seeing how badly migraines can affect a person’s daily life, especially through his mother’s experience, Ahmad decided to take action. Ahmad’s initiative is an AI-powered Migraine Companion App, which helps users track migraines, identify triggers and provide emotional and practical support during painful episodes. The AI-powered Migraine Companion App has a focus on helping people feel calmer and more supported during migraines.
The Spark
During the SPARK Workshop, what stood out to me most was that small ideas can grow into real solutions that impact people’s lives. It made me realise that innovation is not just about creating something complex, but about solving real problems that people quietly struggle with every day.
There was a moment during the session when we discussed identifying problems around us and that really stayed with me. It made me think differently about technology. Instead of just thinking about apps as entertainment or convenience tools, I started seeing them as something that can genuinely support people through real pain and challenges.
What really shifted my thinking was understanding that ideas become powerful when they are connected to real human experiences. That idea stayed with me long after the workshop session ended.
My SPARK Challenge
One issue I deeply care about is migraines. I have seen how badly they can affect a person’s daily life, especially through my own mother’s experience. It is not just a headache, but a condition that can completely disrupt someone’s ability to function normally. This made me want to take action instead of just observing it.
I have chosen to take the “Build” approach by developing an AI-powered Migraine Companion App. The goal is to help users track migraines, identify triggers and provide emotional and practical support during painful episodes.
Since the workshop, my idea has evolved significantly. At first, I thought of it as just a tracking app in progress, but now it has become a full support system under development. It includes features like Emergency Mode, AI emotional support, prevention predictions, and personalised insights based on user patterns. The focus has shifted from just collecting data to actually helping people feel calmer and more supported during migraines.
What I’m learning
So far, I have learned that building something meaningful requires more than just coding.
I also realised the importance of communication and sharing ideas clearly, something I experienced when I spoke at a TEDx event. It taught me how powerful it is to turn personal experiences into messages that can inspire and inform others. That experience still influences how I approach this project, especially when thinking about how this app is not just a technical tool but a way to communicate care and understanding.
It requires empathy, research and understanding the real-life experience of users. I have also learned how important design is, especially for users who are in pain and need a calm, simple interface.
What surprised me most is how much thought goes into making something feel “gentle” rather than just functional. Even small design choices like colours and button size can make a big difference in stressful moments.
My next step is to continue building the core features of the app, especially the migraine logging system and AI companion, while improving the user experience to make it as calm and accessible as possible.
In One Sentence
I am turning a personal observation of pain into a calm, AI-powered tool that supports and understands people during one of their most difficult health experiences.
I would encourage others to look closely at the problems around them, especially the ones people silently struggle with. Technology is most powerful when it is used to reduce suffering and make life easier for others. Even a small idea, when built with care and purpose, can grow into something that truly helps people.
For further information, email: spark.gsl@future-foundations.co.uk
