Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairperson of the Rubu' Qarn for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators, the opening ceremony of the 13th Sharjah Arab Children Forum set to take place on today (Sunday) at Sharjah Cultural Palace.
This year’s edition brings together nearly 128 Arab children from 10 Arab countries, including the UAE delegation of 84 children from a cross-section of institutions including Sharjah Children Centres, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, and the UAE Girl Guides Association, under the theme ‘Hear Us… We Are The Future’.
A number of children from previous forums have grown up to hold high positions in various fields such as medicine, surgery, politics, diplomacy, media, engineering, art and social sciences. Many are still in contact with each other.
Aysha Al Kaabi, Acting Director of Sharjah Children (SC) and Chairperson of the Forum’s Higher Organising Committee, highlighted this as evidence of the event’s enduring success. She said: “The children from the previous editions prove that the forum is successful. They have grown up to become active and successful members in their communities and they are still in contact with their peers from the forums. Since 1995 the forum has worked to help Arab children hone their personalities, discover their talents and build ties with their Arab peers. This contributes strongly to the home countries, and to the Arab world.”
Saud Buhandi took part in the forum back in 1998 and is now a member of the Judiciary at the Ministry of Justice. He said: “I participated in the forum 20 years ago, but I still remember it as if it was yesterday. We are still in touch with the people who we have known for 20 years since the Sharjah Arab Children Forum, and I can see that each of us occupies an important position in his country or achieves outstanding success in his job.”
“I learned the importance of representing my country well, and the importance of making successful friendships in childhood. This becomes a real help and support in the future. It is important also to recognise the importance of participating in such forums and representing our countries in a way that reflects national identity in an honorable manner.
“One of the most beautiful situations that have happened to me in my life is my first meeting with His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, at the forum. I will never forget that meeting thanks to his inspiring and encouraging words about loyalty to the homeland.”
Mohammed Al Junibi participated in the first ever forum, held in 1995. Now working as a planning engineer at Abu Dhabi Municipality, Mohammed pointed to the forum as a turning point in his life. He said: “We learned a lot, practiced in various activities and met many important personalities. The forum is very important as it helps and encourages children to discover their talents. It also refines a child’s personality by enabling them to interact with other children from different backgrounds.”
Saud Al Kaabi, who participated in the forum in 1997 and 1998, said: “I still communicate with my former colleagues from the UAE delegation. I still remember my most important moments of the forum when I presented in the opening and the closing ceremony. That was how my talent was discovered my talents and I was selected later to be a broadcaster for Dubai TV and then Abu Dhabi TV. My start came from the Sharjah Arab Children Forum.”
Abdullah Hassan Ismail from Iraq took part in the 2009 edition, and he felt the forum helped him to become a ‘responsible man’. He said: “The forum was a powerful experience for me and a qualitative shift for my personality, to become a responsible man and represent my country well. I am in constant contact with my colleagues who lived the same experience with me at the forum and we have shared memories of those good old days which brought us joy and increased our knowledge. The meeting with His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi has affected all of us and we are all grateful for his pioneering role in building an authentic Arab generation that belongs to his Arab identity.”
Since its launch in 1995, the Forum has addressed many issues which impact Arab children. It has also promoted loyalty to the homeland, identity and family among the Arab youth, and encouraged them to interact with their nation’s issues in a bid to help the individual countries develop and flourish.
This year’s edition runs under the theme ‘Hear Us…We Are The Future’. It will highlight the importance of science and technology in children’s lives and show how this field can help to stimulate thinking, innovation and creativity. The forum will also discuss the importance of sustainable development to Arab children and society, and also encourage Arab children towards their common identity that binds them to one nation with an authentic and distinctive culture. In addition, the forum will also give the Arab children an introduction to the UAE’S achievements and its founders.
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