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 Aayush, a student at Jumeirah College, who is working on youth literacy and the growing disconnect between children and physical books due to the rise of digital gadgets.
The Spark
One thing that really stood out to me during the SPARK Workshop was how it encouraged people to become more confident in expressing themselves. Rather than simply responding to questions, we were pushed to share our own ideas and opinions, which made the experience much more engaging. It created a space where everyone felt more comfortable speaking, even if they weren’t fully sure of their answers at first.
A moment that stayed with me was when everyone introduced an object that they thought represented themselves in the best way. It was fascinating to see the different viewpoints my peers had and the amount of unique interpretations made for one object. Personally, I brought a Model Airplane (gifted to me by my father on my 14th birthday) to show my ambition to become a pilot in the future. In summary, this activity showed me that everyone sees things differently and that unique perspectives are valuable.
Overall, the workshop changed the way I think about participation. It showed me that expressing ideas, listening to others, and embracing different viewpoints are all important, and it encouraged me to be more confident in sharing my thoughts.
My SPARK Challenge
The issue that is the most important to me is youth literacy and the growing disconnect between children and physical books due to the rise of digital gadgets. I am passionate about this because I believe reading should be viewed as an exciting adventure rather than a chore. To address this, some community friends and I launched The Wandering Library, a community project where we collected donated books and organized them into mobile suitcases. So far, we have gathered over 737 books and raised 700 dirhams to fund the project’s logistics. By moving these “suitcase libraries” to new locations every six months, we ensured that diverse groups of children have easy, free access to high-quality stories.
For my next step, I plan to publish my project’s success. My goal is to share our impact to encourage more donations and, more importantly, to inspire other young leaders to start similar mobile initiatives in their own neighborhoods. Moreover, I am currently in the phase of planning to open mini reading workshops where children can read some of our library bestsellers. These workshops will happen around my community to spread knowledge about the Wandering Library and to promote the love of reading.
Since the workshop, my idea has evolved significantly. It started as a simple desire to see kids read more, but it has grown into a dynamic, interactive, and mobile library. I have learned that to compete with technology, reading must be accessible and engaging. By following this path and the 4 E’s explained by SPARK, I hope to show my community that books can be just as exciting as any gadget, eventually scaling this model to reach children across the region and the world.
What I’m learning
“Books are a uniquely portable magic.” – Stephen King
Working on the Wandering Library has taught me that turning an idea into reality requires planning, dedication, and persistence. Collecting over 737 books, organising them into suitcases, and moving them to different locations showed me that even small projects need consistent effort to succeed. I’ve also realised that encouraging young people to read isn’t just about giving them books—it’s about creating experiences that spark curiosity and make reading exciting.
What surprised me the most was how supportive people were, both in donating books and showing interest in the project. At the same time, it has been challenging to maintain momentum and ensure each new location captures attention.
My next step is to continue developing the project by exploring new ways to inspire young readers, reflecting on what activities and books spark the most interest, and collaborating with others to design creative and impactful experiences that make reading enjoyable for everyone.
In One Sentence
My SPARK Journey taught me that ideas can SPARK change, but it’s taking action, learning from others, and believing in your vision that lights the way.
My message I would say to other is that your ideas matter—bring them to life, inspire others, and make a difference today.
For further information, email: spark.gsl@future-foundations.co.uk
