Enrolment at childhood centres rising

Enrolment at childhood cultural centres in Sharjah have been steadily growing as more children find them an ideal place to develop their talents.

Over 4,500 children are now registered at all 18 centres spread in Sharjah city, the Eastern and the Central Regions, said Ahmed Suliman Al Hamadi, Supervisor of the centres in the Eastern Region. He said some 1,900 children visit the centres daily during the summer holidays.

He was addressing a gathering at the closing ceremony of the centres' summer programme held at the Sharjah Theatrical Arts Institute on Thursday.

Al Hamadi said the centres represent safe and appropriate environment for children to engage in useful activities in their free time and mix learning with fun.

Children are becoming more actively involved in the various functions that the centres provide such as drawing, music, handicrafts, poetry, acting, reading, computer and sports.

He added the centres are in the process of diversifying and expanding the range of activities to attract more children.

The official praised the unlimited support given to childhood development by His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chair-person of the Supreme Family Council.

This support, he stressed, will breed an informed and talented generation that lives up to modern challenges harnessed by faith and knowledge. The centres hold regular workshops, takes part in cultural functions, including Sharjah Intern-ational Book Fair, the Children's Parliament, scientific camps and exhibitions.

Children of the centres have participated in childhood meetings abroad.

They recently represented the UAE at the Arab Child Culture Conference organised by the Young Arab Magazine in Kuwait in May this year, and at another meeting on the Arab Child's Culture in the Third Millennium, organised by the Arab Council for Childhood and Development in Cairo, Al Hamadi said.

Training courses are being held regularly for the instructors at the centre to keep them abreast of the latest methods of childcare and education. The closing ceremony consisted of dances, music, songs and poetry presented by the children.

Certificates of merit were distributed to distinguished children and instructors of the centre as well as the representatives of the local establishments who supported the centres' activities and members of the press.