Sharjah Arab Children’s Forum opens

Sharjah: There is a need to launch initiatives for children to enable them to show their potential talents, creative abilities and innovations, especially since today’s children differ from those of previous generations due to technological advancements and the information revolution.

This was stated by Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, while speaking at the opening of the 12th Sharjah Arab Children Forum (SACF) on Tuesday at Al Qasimia University.

The Forum, being held under the title: ‘Hear us, We are the Future’, organised by Sharjah Children Centres, a subsidiary of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, runs until April 3.

Addressing the Arab children participating in the forum,, Shaikha Jawaher, who is the chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, said that children in the 21st century are empowered with modern technology that allows them to search for answers, develop their intellectual abilities and expand their scientific knowledge. “Sharjah continues to extend bridges of cooperation and partnership with the competent authorities in Arab countries with the aim of exchanging expertise regarding nurturing children on sound grounds to instil noble values and virtues in Arab children,” Shaikha Jawaher emphasised.

“What would you like to say? We are all ears and will listen to you, our dear children,” she said and advised children to be proactive in acquiring knowledge, science and culture and using language to express what they have learnt.

Shaikha Jawaher urged children to be empowered with good conduct and behaviour and to respect their parents, teachers and older people, embrace the culture of dialogue and the art of listening when dealing with people.

“Wars and regretful events in the Arab and Muslim world are created by people who have lost sight of righteousness,” she noted and said that these people are following a path of malice, hatred, humiliation and indignity because they do not want other people to enjoy freedom, love and peace.

“They were innocent children before they grew up and chose a life of crime and chaos. They did not learn how to live a happy and peaceful life. They learnt only how to hate, not to love. They learnt how to be inhumane instead of developing their own sense of humanity such as feeling the pain of others.”

Shaikha Jawaher encouraged children to express their opinions and make their suggestions about developing ideals, especially those that concern them, and to commit themselves to being assertive.

Reem Bin Karam, head of the Organising Committee of the Sharjah Arab Children Forum and director of the Sharjah Children Centres, thanked Shaikha Jawaher’s support for the Sharjah Children Centres since their establishment more than 30 years ago and the important role they have played in the realisation of Sharjah’s vision, which aims to develop children’s talents and abilities through the forum. She pointed out that the forum reflects the emirate’s successful vision for preparing and training children as well as developing their culture and sharpening their skills to ensure a better future for them.

The forum is a biannual pan-Sharjah initiative organised by the General Department of the Sharjah Children’s Centres. The forum offers a platform for Arab children aged 8-12 to discuss various issues and exchange ideas and experiences with their peers from all nationalities in a peaceful and secure environment. The forum treats children as an important section of society who play a significant role in shaping the present and future of the world.