Sharjah Arab Children Forum explores children's talents through 14 workshops

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 13th Sharjah Arab Children Forum, under the theme “Hear us… we are the future”, held 14 workshops to explore children’s talents at Mughaider Children Center.

The event, which is organized by Sharjah Children of Rubu' Qarn for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators, brought together nearly 128 Arab children from 10 Arab countries. The UAE delegation includes 84 Emirati children from a cross-section of areas and Sharjah Children Centres, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, UAE Girl Guides Association.

Day three of the forum focused on the development of intellectual skills and the spirit of teamwork through 14 workshops in topics such as science, technology, sport, arts and handicrafts. The workshops helped to educate the children in new skills and hobbies while also instilling the necessary knowledge and healthy behaviours in order to create a better future.

The forum cooperated with community institutions, government agencies and the Seppo platform to put on the busy schedule of workshops, with eight morning sessions focused on the spread of a culture of sustainability and a further six in the afternoon offering the chance to showcase talent through works of art that support sustainability.

Sharjah Youth set up a workshop to teach children how to recycle paper and use it again for the sake of the environment. They also learned about the technological tools that preserve the environment and support sustainability goals. Watani Al Emarat Foundation, on the occasion of the Year of Zayed, hosted a workshop to educate children about the founding father’s life and achievements, sustainability culture as one of his goals and the UAE culture through a number of activities such as photography and Jigsaw puzzles while Sharjah for Capability Development’s workshop taught children about the basics of architecture, space, chemistry and physics.

Sharjah Women Sports Foundation promoted the goals of sustainable health-related development goals by training children on a number of sports, such as archery, fencing and running while Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council taught children how to make handcrafts with materials used in the production of traditional works and the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood held a workshop on agricultural technology to educate children on hydroponics as an alternative to soil cultivation for a sustainable future.

A number of entertaining morning sessions helped the children discover their talents while also learning good manners. The Sharjah Ladies Club, for example, participated with a workshop about arts and crafts activities, where children explored the art of face painting and handicrafts. The Big Heart Foundation put together a presentation about its role in supporting children and ensuring a better life for them, before hosting a workshop to present their ideas on how to involve children in the volunteering space.

In the afternoon, workshops mainly focused on helping the children discover their talents. Children learned about maintaining mental wellness in a Soul Art workshop which focused on drawing in a musical setting. The AUFUQ AL EBDAA Training Center workshop on self-development taught attending children about creating happiness, effective communication and self-confidence through team work. The Anfasic Dokhoon workshop developed children's senses so that they could distinguish between different perfumes and learn about the perfume, while an Araki workshop taught them how to make chocolate, and decorate sweets, and Healthy Snacks put on a cooking workshop using healthy ingredients.

Workshops with a focus on sustainability included a session on the importance of marine life by Sharjah Museums Authority that highlighted the impact of waste and industrial resources on the environment. Drone Pilot Transporters educated children on the use of drones and their role in preserving the environment.

The Sharjah Arab Children Forum also welcomed little Mahra Al Shehhi as a special surprise guest on day three, and in her workshop she collaborated with various groups on ideas that would help create a better future.

Mahra made the headlines in 2016 aged six, when she was recorded imitating a speech from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the video went viral.

The forum was held in conjunction with community institutions, government agencies and Seppo, an innovative platform which specializes in education and promotion of sustainable goals through real-life experience and the use of the environment as a nucleus for learning.  Seppo is recipient of a large number of global awards and certificates of recognition and is used by more than 180,000 students and 8,000 teachers in more than 20 countries.

The Seppo platform ensured that the children could store information they received through an electronic game dedicated to the forum, which tests their information, asking them daily questions about the program and its activities. The winners are announced in each challenge at the end of each day.