Youth Programs

We focus on opening new horizons for Arab youth seeking free and unconventional learning spaces. We empower them to deconstruct modern digital tools and engage with technology through a deep, analytical lens—moving beyond surface-level consumption and routine social media use—to transform technology into a medium for meaningful expression and impact. This direction represents the core of ADEF's accumulated knowledge and expertise over the years, as its community, methodologies, and operational systems continuously evolve to address contemporary shifts. This core unit encompasses a series of ongoing programs and initiatives that form the backbone of the organization's work, including:

Art and Culture

Most of ADEF’s broader community members are themselves culture producers who express themselves through the art, bringing to the fore creative ways of addressing socio-political questions. Therefore, another key area of our work is centered on supporting them directly, as per their expressed needs, besides offering our own educational programming, and developing tech tools that aid processes of knowledge production. Such expressed needs include the need for a space and funding to develop their art and professionalize their practice to become more independent artists with a wider reach. This area of our work responds to their needs through the provision of grants, support and mentorship and provision of equipment, space and resources.

Tech

This is a prolonged training program – 6 to 8 months – that takes place every year with the goal of training new techies and developing their skills in three technical specializations: networking, programming and data science. Moving forward, trainees will take part in specialized workshops surrounding specific projects, for which they should develop solutions. These projects serve both ADEF and partner institutions’ needs, as we aim at the development of four to five technical projects each year.

TOTs and Curricula Development

Facilitator Preparation Program: An annual mini-camp program aimed at qualifying young educators, artists, and techies to use technology as a self-expression tool and produce their own projects. Curriculum Development: We develop participatory Arabic curricula combining arts and tech, covering video editing, sound and visual design, and computational thinking, along with emerging fields like machine learning, 3D printing, and fashion design. Continuous Evolution & Flexible Learning: These curricula power our camps and seasonal schools, undergo continuous updates, and act as flexible blueprints that foster critical thinking and collaborative exploration rather than rigid instruction. Open Educational Resources: All detailed curricula—including learning strategies, exercises, and references—are made openly available in Arabic on open-source learning platforms to empower youth, facilitators, and enthusiasts across the Arab world.