Expo City Dubai Foundation Names 10 Youth-Led Projects for Changemakers Academy; Awards Up To AED25,000 Each

Expo City Dubai Foundation has selected 10 youth-led projects for its Changemakers Academy, with each receiving grants of up to AED 25,000 and mentorship support.

The selected projects address workplace safety, mobility, health and wellness, financial literacy, and social inclusion, with several initiatives focused on accessibility for people of determination. Some projects may also receive additional licensing and visa support.

These include Backtrix, a gamified posture-correction system that tracks user behavior and promotes healthier habits; Freeflow, a mobility solution designed to improve accessibility and independence; Hayati Health, a digital platform providing menopause-related education and support for Arab women; ROOTED Futures, an initiative aimed at supporting economic empowerment and inclusion for the afro-heritage community; and Safeguard AI Pro, a predictive safety monitoring system that identifies workplace risks using real-time data.

Also among the winners are SafeStep, an AI-based navigation tool offering step-by-step accessible guidance in airport environments; and SignPI, an AI platform enabling real-time translation between sign language and spoken language; SignQuest, a gamified learning platform that teaches sign language through interactive modules; Suited, a program focused on financial literacy and practical life skills for young people; and VocaBuddy, a communication aid that converts user input into speech for individuals with speech impairments.

The Changemakers Academy is an innovation and entrepreneurship incubator that grew out of Expo 2020 Dubai’s University Innovation Program. It provides training, mentorship, licensing support and grants to help graduates and aspiring entrepreneurs turn ideas into viable businesses.

According to the foundation, the latest edition received more than 200 submissions from final-year students and recent graduates across the UAE, marking a 39% increase from the previous edition. Twenty-four projects advanced to the final stage following pitch sessions, a social entrepreneurship bootcamp, and final presentations before a review panel.