Khalifa University Alumna and SDG Ambassador Honored with ‘Y4S Champions 2025’ Future Sustainability Leader Award

Khalifa University alumna Maria Latifa Benkhelifa, a 2024 Applied Mathematics and Statistics graduate, has been honored with the ‘Y4S Champions 2025’ Award under the Future Sustainability Leader category by Masdar’s Youth 4 Sustainability (Y4S) program. The award recognizes her exceptional dedication to sustainability, youth empowerment, and community engagement across the UAE.

Benkhelifa, an SDG Ambassador during her studies, was part of the 2025 Y4S cohort and received the award at the Ramadan Gathering 2026. She co-developed three AI projects aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), merging technology and innovation with tangible social impact. These initiatives included BookBuddy AI, an AI-powered Arabic reading assistant promoting inclusive education (SDG 4); Nabra, supporting children with speech development (SDG 3 & 4); and maKina AI, a predictive maintenance platform enhancing industrial sustainability (SDG 9 & 13).

Dr. Waleed Alameri highlighted Benkhelifa’s leadership and commitment to sustainability, emphasizing Khalifa University’s role in equipping students and alumni to tackle global challenges. As an SDG Ambassador, she also led student-led sustainability initiatives, moderated panels, and fostered engagement with real-world applications of the SDGs.

Benkhelifa credited Khalifa University’s mentorship and environment for shaping her sustainability journey, stating that the recognition reflects the transformative opportunities she experienced during her time at the university.