More than 250 university students from across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi will be selected to act as the Qasr Al Hosn Festival Ambassadors during this years edition of the annual Qasr Al Hosn Festival which is being held from February 11th to 21st 2015 in Abu Dhabi city. The Ambassadors Programme, which is growing in size since the pilot program in 2014 with 160 to more than 250 students this year, will see the ambassadors interact with visitors to help narrate the Emirates rich culture and history across the various festival touch points.

The Festival will celebrate the UAEs tangible and intangible heritage through a rich, diverse programme featuring guided tours of the Fort, inspiring activities and live performances in the Cultural Foundation Building, in addition to public programmes held on the Festival grounds reflecting various elements of UAE culture.

Reem Al Mansoori, of the Festivals Public Programme, said: The Qasr Al Hosn Ambassadors Programme is a key component of the Qasr Al Hosn Festival, and its popularity among university students is testament to their great interest in Emirati traditional and cultural heritage. We aim to reinforce our cultural values and national identity through instilling a sense of pride and belonging in our youth, and empowering them to actively participate in the Qasr Al Hosn Festival.

Conservation does not only refer to the preservation and restoration of great monuments but it also aims to build capabilities and transfer knowledge from generation to generation, which is the best way to preserve the nations cultural identity, added Al Mansoori.

The Ambassadors Programme has been designed to increase awareness among Abu Dhabis younger generation of the Emirates history, traditions and culture dating back to when Qasr Al Hosn became one of the first permanent structures in Abu Dhabi. The initiative has gained popularity among the student community since the launch of the program last year, as they all are keen on playing a role in the preservation of their cultural heritage.

Ayesha Al Dhaheri, a student who took part in last years programme said: I am proud to have participated at the Qasr Al Hosn Festival, where I was able to learn more about Emirati tangible and intangible heritage. The Ambassadors Programme gave me the opportunity to present my local history and traditions, and shed light on the lifestyle of generations of Emiratis.

As part of their preparation into becoming Festival ambassadors, the students are receiving extensive training from cultural experts and Festival organisers. The knowledge transfer will inform and spread awareness on the history of the Fort, Emirati heritage, and the different elements of the Festivals workshops, cultural activities, traditional performances and interactive learning experiences. Participants will also share with the audience their valuable cultural knowledge and provide Festival visitors with any assistance they may need.

The Qasr Al Hosn Festival has a tradition of reaching out to the community, and the Ambassadors Programme is one of the vehicles to engage Emirati youth in the preservation of Emirati heritage. The Programme empowers the students to act as the interface between the older Emirati generation - holders of rich knowledge on the UAEs intangible heritage - and the public.

The Ambassadors will support artisans and experts in running workshops and activities, providing additional guidance and programme details to visitors. They will be present in each of the Festivals four themed zones Desert, Oasis, Marine and Abu Dhabi Island, in addition to the Qasr Al Hosn Fort, the National Consultative Council Chamber and the Cultural Foundation Building. Ambassadors will also encourage visitor interaction in dhow building; palm weaving, sea chanting, falconry, tree climbing and making Gahwa, in addition to a number of other Emirati-themed activities.

Participating Ambassadors represent 10 universities from across the Emirate including: Zayed University, United Arab Emirates University, the Higher Colleges of Technology, Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Al Hosn University, Emirates College for Advanced Education, Al Ain University of Science and Technology, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi University, and NYU Abu Dhabi University & College.