From January 15 to 17, 2025 8th Secretary General of the UN & Co-chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre Ban Ki-moon and CEO Monika Froehler were in Dubai to meet with regional partners in the field of education.  

To start off their engagements on January 16, they met CEO and Chairman of Dubai Cares Tariq Al Gurg. The meeting focused on the collaboration between Dubai Cares and the Ban Ki-moon Centre for the Green Jobs for Youth Online Course and Mentorship Program. CEO Monika Froehler showcased the impactful work on the Mentorship Program and the Your Future in Green Jobs Online Course during the last year.  Both sides reaffirmed the importance and their commitment to champion education transformation for climate action.  

The online course, designed for young people aged 14 to 20 years, seeks to empower youth to align their passions, interests, and skills with impactful green careers that directly address the climate crisis. 

Building on the learned information of the course, the mentorship will match 45 young mentees by 2025 with experienced professionals in the green jobs sector who will support them in implementing innovative climate solutions that can accelerate the transition to a green economy in their communities. The call for applications to become a mentee is set to open in April 2025. 

On January 17, Co-chair Ban Ki-moon and CEO Monika Froehler were welcomed by Dino Varkey, Group Chief Executive Officer at GEMS Education and Dr. Saima Rana, Principal of GEMS World Academy at the GWAMUN (Gems World Academy Model United Nations) 25. This annual event serves as a dynamic platform for young leaders to step into the roles of diplomats, address pressing global challenges, and hone essential skills in negotiation, debate, and critical thinking. 

In a session dedicated to an exchange between students and Co-chair Ban Ki-moon, the students were eager to ask him questions about the SDGs and their implementation.  Ban Ki-moon engaged with the students, sharing insights from his tenure as UN Secretary-General and inspiring them to take an active role in advancing the 2030 Agenda. Both Co-chair Ban Ki-moon and CEO Monika Froehler were deeply impressed by the students’ thoughtful consideration and dedication to the SDGs.

Later in the afternoon at the official opening ceremony of GWAMUN 25, Co-chair Ban Ki-moon gave a speech reflecting about the transformative effect education had on his own life. He shared a poignant memory of how, after the Korean War, he was  able to study using books donated by UNESCO. “Education transforms lives,” he emphasized. Furthermore, he shared lessons of hope with the students highlighting the importance of multilateralism, innovation, compassion, and global citizenship. 

The mission trip ended with a dinner at the residence of Dino Varkey, where the BKMC delegation, Varkey family, and dedicated GEMS leadership had a fruitful exchange over dinner. 

Engaging with partners in the field of education and witnessing the passion of so many young people striving for a more sustainable and brighter future reaffirmed the importance of BKMC’s efforts in advancing education for climate. As Co-chair Ban Ki-moon stated: “The only hope I have is you – the young generation.”