Second session of the 14th Sharjah Children Council to take place in September

Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, the second session of the 14th session of Sharjah Children Council (SCC) will take place September 1st at Al Diwan Al Amiri (the Ruler's Court) in Sharjah. 

Organised by the Sharjah Children Centres, a subsidiary of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, SCC’s first meeting for 2016 is being held under the banner ‘We Creatively Innovate…Our UAE’.

Coinciding with the UAE’s Year of Reading 2016, SCC’s meeting aims to establish a framework for promoting knowledge acquisition among children and nurturing a generation of well-educated young people who are proud of their Arab heritage and who respect other people’s cultures. The session will examine methods of building children’s capacities, honing their capabilities and developing their personalities so that they are able to express their personal opinions about issues that are important to them. 

Attended by all 69 members of SCC, the plenary meeting will address an array of topics, including innovative methods for promoting a love of books, the positive impact of reading on the development of children’s creativity and the best ways to promulgate literature as being a source of knowledge and enlightenment.

Throughout the session, Naaima Al Zarouni, a young associate member of the Sharjah Children Centres, will be launching a new and creative initiative, in support and supervision of the Sharjah Children Centres, aimed at empowering children enlisted at the centre to constantly seek and pursue knowledge. Aged only 12, Naaima’s initiative will mark her last year at the children centres, which enlists children aged from 6 to 12, and will mark her launch in applying experiences from the children centres into her community and society.

“Thanks to the directives and support of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council member and Ruler of Sharjah, and Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, both have left a symbolic footprint in our society and our great nation which allowed us to organize these consultative councils creating the fullest and most comprehensive projects and campaigns reinforcing children with unique innovative skills and the love for acquiring knowledge,” said Reem BinKaram, Director of the General Department of Children Centres in Sharjah.

BinKaram added: “The Sharjah Children Council has long established itself as a sustainable platform contributing to the upbringing of our future generations. Through the series of sessions organized by the SCC, we seek to instill a key sense of responsibility among our children and help them understand the concept of unity, sharing and accepting one another’s opinions through coming together under one roof, discussing and consulting together towards a unified goal.”

BinKaram added: “Our mission is to position our children as ambassadors and leaders and to teach them in carrying this torch at the youngest age possible. Evidence which reflects this hunger for knowledge and leadership at a young age is Naaima Al Zarouni’s new initiative which she aims to launch during the 2nd session. We’re truly excited on her announcement and are proud of her stepping forward in making a difference to her community. Furthermore, we’re looking forward to revealing the details and specifics of this initiative and the positive impact it will have on all our children at the Sharjah Children Centres.”

The first meeting of the 14th session of SCC was held in October 2015, with the event hosting 14 year-old Fatima Al Kaabi who is known as ‘the youngest Emirati inventor’ because of her multiple innovations. It also featured Sarah Yousef Amiri, Head of the Council of UAE Scientists, Emirates Mars Mission Deputy Project Manager and Science Lead Probe of Hope (Hope Mission). The attendees used the inaugural meeting to discuss their respective experiences in the world of innovation.

SCC is a subsidiary of Sharjah Children Centres. The body aims to educate children in Sharjah about parliamentary life in the state and achieve the leadership’s vision of creating future leaders through education and community involvement. It aspires to do this by advocating the principles of shura behaviour, which are based on having respect for other people’s opinions and establishing Islamic principles as selfless concepts that serve society.

SCC aims to instil the spirit of responsibility in young minds and empower children with the confidence to participate in public life. It conducts overviews of issues related to childhood, in particular education, health, safety and the environment. The council strives to raise a cultured generation that is equipped with the necessary skills to advance society and add to the attributes of the nation. SCC holds its meetings and sessions under the supervision of the Sharjah Children Centres.