Communities
AlUla鈥檚 local community is the beating heart of the region, and their full involvement in UNESCO and The Royal Commission for AlUla's (RCU) initiatives is the cornerstone for creating a lasting and meaningful impact. By bringing together traditional knowledge and UNESCO鈥檚 expertise, this partnership is dedicated to empowering local people to spearhead future projects through a series of transformative capacity-building initiatives.
Through this collaboration, AlUla is set as a hub for new approaches to social change and a living example of the synergy between heritage preservation and innovation, inspiring other communities to pursue a similar path of growth and harmony.
Read more about this journey of discovery and growth by exploring UNESCO and RCU social transformation initiatives for AlUla:
Youth Accelerator Program (YAP)
The Youth Accelerator Programme (YAP) in AlUla, a partnership between UNESCO and RCU, is designed to empower young leaders through sports to enhance their employability outcomes and foster long-term professional growth.
As part of UNESCO鈥檚 Fit for Life sport initiative, YAP tackles critical challenges like physical inactivity, unemployment, and inequalities by equipping youth with the skills they need to make meaningful impact in their communities.
This programme provides 10 young people from AlUla with specialised sport trainings and work placement opportunities. They receive guidance and support as they design and lead their own community sports projects, gaining valuable professional experience and sharing their findings with influential leaders, partners, and policymakers.
The YAP is set to create a wave of positive change, with young leaders driving impactful sports initiatives, strengthening community bonds, and promoting healthy lifestyles. Programme beneficiaries are trained to spread impact within their communities, share insights, and explore ways to scale these innovations, ultimately driving positive change through sport.
UNESCO Fit for Life
Preparing for Tomorrow: Empowering Cultural Operators: A Vision for Intercultural Dialogue in AlUla
Cultural operators are the vibrant heartbeat of our shared cultural landscape, dedicated to crafting, managing, and promoting enriching cultural experiences. The initiative 鈥淒eveloping Intercultural Competencies and Fostering Dialogue in AlUla鈥 is a transformative project designed to empower these cultural leaders to turn cultural experiences into powerful vehicles for intercultural learning and understanding.
Aligned with UNESCO鈥檚 mission to foster peace and resilience through dialogue, this initiative aims to create a model for developing intercultural competencies within AlUla鈥檚 dynamic network of cultural operators. By producing advocacy materials that celebrate the richness of authentic cultural experiences and collaborating with local storytellers (rawis) and other key stakeholders, UNESCO and RCU are working together to promote intercultural understanding and challenge stereotypes.
Read more about UNESCO鈥檚 Framework for enabling Intercultural Dialogue