At HALO Middle East, community has always been part of who we are.

Yes, we talk about sustainability. We work with products that support healthier homes, safer workplaces, and a more conscious way of cleaning. But sustainability is not only about the products we use or the waste we reduce.

It is also about people.

It is about showing up for the community we live in.

It is about sharing knowledge when we can.

It is about giving young people the confidence to think bigger.

That is why we were so grateful to have the opportunity to mentor a group of students from Greenwood International School Dubai as part of the INJAZ Company Program.

This opportunity came through a number of community service initiatives, many of them led and supported by Naila Al Moosawi, Country Lead Corporate Citizenship UAE. We are thankful for the nomination and for the continued work that goes into creating these meaningful opportunities for businesses, mentors, and students to connect.

More than a school project

The INJAZ Company Program is not simply about coming up with an idea.

It’s structured, demanding, and highly competitive. Students are required to build a complete business concept from the ground up. They need to think about the problem they are solving, who they are solving it for, how the business could work, and whether the idea is financially viable.

They also need to consider the wider impact of their work, including how their business aligns with sustainability priorities such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

In other words, they are not just asked to dream.

They are asked to build.

And that takes discipline, commitment, creativity, and a lot of courage.

Introducing Shrinkit

The all girl team we mentored created Shrinkit.ae, an engineering led concept focused on improving the recycling process for plastic bottles.

Their idea centered on one small but important detail that is often overlooked.

When plastic bottles enter the recycling process, there is often residual water left inside them. Shrinkit explored how this water could be captured and repurposed, rather than being lost during the recycling phase.

On the surface, it may seem like a small issue.

But at scale, small amounts of wasted water add up.

The team recognised this and developed a concept that connected environmental responsibility with practical problem solving. They looked at where the system could sit within the recycling chain, how it could function, and how it could contribute to a more efficient process.

What impressed us most was that they did not treat sustainability as a buzzword.

They treated it as a real problem that required real thought.

Thinking like young entrepreneurs

As mentors, we watched the team work through the different layers of their business.

They had to ask difficult questions.

• Would the idea work in practice?
• Where would the system fit?
• Who would use it?
• How could they explain the environmental benefit clearly?
• What would the financial model look like?
• How could they make the concept both responsible and commercially realistic?

These are not easy questions for any business owner, let alone a team of students. But they approached the process with focus and maturity. They listened, refined, questioned, and kept improving their ideas.

They also learned something many entrepreneurs discover very quickly.

A good idea is only the beginning.

The real work is in shaping it, testing it, explaining it, and making sure others can see the value too.

Making the Top 20 in the UAE

Shrinkit made it into the Top 20 in the UAE, which is a fantastic achievement.

Although the team was eliminated in round two, that does not take away from what they accomplished.

Not even slightly.

• They created a business concept with purpose.
• They presented an idea rooted in sustainability.
• They thought through engineering, finance, and environmental impact.
• They stood up and shared their work in a competitive national programme.
• They represented their school, their team, and themselves with pride.

That deserves to be celebrated.

Competitions often focus on who gets through to the next round. But growth does not only happen when you win.

It happens in the preparation.

In the conversations.

In the moments of doubt.

In the courage to keep going.

In the confidence that comes from trying something difficult.

And this team should be incredibly proud of themselves.

Why mentorship matters

For us at HALO Middle East, this experience was deeply meaningful.

As women, mothers, business owners, and members of the UAE community, we believe there is real value in showing up for the next generation.

Young women need to see that their ideas matter.

They need spaces where they can explore business, sustainability, innovation, and leadership. They need encouragement, but they also need honest guidance. They need people who will ask the practical questions, help them think more clearly, and remind them that their voice belongs in the room.

Mentorship is not about having all the answers.

Sometimes it is simply about being present. Listening. Sharing what you know. Offering perspective. Helping someone take the next step with a little more confidence.

That is the kind of community contribution we are proud to be part of.

Well done, Team Shrinkit

To the girls behind Shrinkit.ae, we want to say this clearly.

You should be proud.

You took on a serious challenge. You developed an idea with purpose. You represented yourselves beautifully. You made it to the Top 20 in the UAE, and that is something worth celebrating.

The result of one round does not define the value of your work.

The experience, the learning, the confidence, and the courage you built along the way will stay with you far beyond this competition.

We are honoured to have played a small part in your journey, and we look forward to seeing where your ideas, ambition, and leadership take you next.