Expo 2020 Dubai celebrates world cultures, friendship, and human excellence, and is the first World’s Fair to take place in the Middle East. Through the 192 countries hosting pavilions, Expo 2020 Dubai will unveil the inventions, ideas, and inspirations that have the potential to change the future. The U.S. Department of State oversees development of the USA Pavilion to showcase American freedom, ideals, enterprise, culture, and global leadership. Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability are the three themes of the USA Pavilion. VIPP is proud to educate about Expo 2020 and share exciting opportunities for engagement. Due to Covid-19, the event was postponed and will take place from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, keeping the original name of Expo 2020 Dubai.
75 Youth Ambassadors will represent the United States in the USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Youth Ambassadors serve an important role in public diplomacy and cultural exchange by engaging visitors from around the world about American values, history, and culture. Learn more about the USA Pavilion at usapavilion.org.
Sara Al Khulaidi is a 27-year-old Yemeni American immigrant residing in Michigan for the past 13 years. Sara is a mental health therapist working for ACCESS as part of the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program for Survivors of Torture. The 2017 Wayne State University graduate received both her bachelors and master’s degree in Clinical Social Work in which she specializes and is licensed in Mental Health Counseling with the concentration of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” – Pablo Picasso. That is the motto that drives Sara as she continues to grow in this therapeutic field. She believes that her purpose in life is to shine and highlight the voices of the unheard, the hurt, the broken, and lend a helping hand to those in need. Every day, Sara is grateful for being able to be part of her clients’ journeys, to be able to listen, heal, empower and assure them that it is okay not to be okay. She aspires to be the reason her clients believe in second chances, believe in themselves, in their purpose, and reignite their sense of belonging/individuality once again. She states that her work as a mental health therapist is very important as it build bridges of hope, creates a safe space and a healthy environment for people to express themselves. Sara’s goal is to resume creating awareness regarding mental health in order to develop more mindful generations.
I am very fortunate to be granted the opportunity of being part of the great Dubai Expo 2020 as a Youth Ambassador representing not only the country of the United States but also myself as an Arab American immigrant. This platform allows the world to see the beautifully designed melting pot the US has created with its diversity and inclusion. I am thrilled to be a Youth Ambassador because of the endless possibilities that would grant me the chance to utilize as well as broaden my skills, knowledge, and meet people from all around the world with diverse backgrounds and various life experiences. I am excited to learn more about the different languages, cultures, food, music, arts and connect with other Youth Ambassadors from the US Pavilion as well as other Pavilions to engage in international collaborations. I am eager to be of service, explore more, and capture unforgettable memories/interactions.
On December 3, VIPP hosted a lecture by Mark Wilson, professor of Urban Planning at Michigan State University, who took us on a journey to explore the prestige and glamour of these mega events, their transformative impact on the host city, as well as the platform they represent for promoting national identity and showcasing new technology. We were also joined by representatives from the U.S. Department of State, and Global Ties U.S., who shared exciting opportunities to get involved in Expo 2020 Dubai. The recording of the webinar is now available.