The UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) opened the 2nd edition of its 'Summer Innovation Camp,' a month-long initiative that will run up until August 18, 2016. The initiative has actually been developed to cultivate the spirit of development and creativity amongst the young Emiratis, while likewise teaching them more about the local telecommunications and information technology (IT) sectors, through various events and activities held throughout the nation.

This year's edition of the event has actually been developed to support reading-based activities in support of 2016 being declared as the Year of Reading by UAE President His Highness (H.H.) Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed and under the instruction of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The move aims to further develop a constant reading routine among today's youth. In addition, this year's occasion will also see the opening of 2 camps for girls for the first time.

The TRA noted that interest in the event has grown considerably and the 8 camps set up in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Kahimah, Fujairah and Al Ain have more surpassed their seat capacity this year, even as the federal agency currently expanded the camp this year from last year's to accommodate the growing number of trainees (aged 6 to 17) wanting to join the camp.

H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General, TRA, stated, "Our summer season development camp is being held with the efforts to enhance and further establish a culture of development and creativity among UAE youth, while likewise teaching them more about the vital role played by the telecoms and IT sections in the nation's growth. Under the directives of H.E. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, the camp offers an environment that tosses the spotlight on innovation, which strengthens the UAE's leading global position in this field."

H.E. Al Mansoori emphasized that the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority Summer Innovation Camp is a considerable action to engage the UAE children and youth in worthwhile activities and even more enhance their talents and creative skills. He even more highlighted that this edition will concentrate on enhancing UAE goals and efforts particularly for children and youth such as the 2016 declaration on the 'Year of Reading', and additional establishing programmes that enables creativity and innovation amongst them. The success of last year's camp has actually pushed the TRA to broaden its seat capacity this year and to open an unique camp for female trainees for the first time, which recorded the most number of trainees wishing to participate in the event, he explained, adding that discovering abilities and building the future of young UAE Nationals is among the main goals of the TRA's corporate social obligation programmes.

The 2nd Summer Innovation Camp will feature 24 different activities, which primarily focus on skills development in technical and IT, sports and personality assessment. There will also be cultural sessions to explore a range of selected books in line with the 2016 Year of Reading, as well as special sessions particularly in strengthening the moral values of the UAE society in the minds of students, the UAE Al Sanaie, the group of concepts, customs and traditions of UAE community, provided by the Watani AL Emarat Foundation.

The TRA Summer Camp effort that was introduced in 2015 offered individuals many activities, which were developed to establish a culture of innovation amongst them. These activities consisted of robotics, mobile applications development, the safe usage of the web and other technology-focused programs, in addition to other activities that intended to improve the trainee's personality and life abilities through leadership courses, building towers, healthy nutrition and monetary administration.

The inaugural camp held last year was a huge success for the TRA with exceptional registration turnout as the target number was about 900 students, but the camp registered a total of 1, 232 students and a completion rate of 136.8 per cent. Participants and their families also highly commended the camp and expressed their feedbacks saying that they have seen a positive change in their children.