Social department’s innovative projects for prisoners, elderly
sharjah — The Sharjah Social Services Department (SSSD) is showcasing a project that facilitates video meetings for prisoners’ children, enabling inmates at penal and correctional institutions to communicate with their kids and families through video chat.
The project is part of several innovations displayed by the SSSD during the UAE Innovation Month in Sharjah, which concluded on Wednesday at Al Majaz Waterfront and the Sharjah Centre for Astronomy and Space Sciences.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Afaf Al Merri, chairperson of the SSSD, said that the project — aimed at promoting communication between children and their parents — involves two communication platforms, one at the relevant penal and correctional institution and another at the SSSD.
She added that another service presented by the department, as part of the UAE Innovation Month, is the use of iPads in e-study, facilitating the supervision of those enrolled in the SSSD’s various courses. Another service includes access to documents required, to complete registration to these courses.
Al Merri said that the SSSD has an e-course to educate parents on how to teach their children to say “no”. The course was developed by the department following visits to several schools and surveys indicating that some parents do not teach their children how to refuse politely.
Registration to the programme, which includes videos, lectures, and tests, can be done through a link that is sent to anyone interested. Upon completion, the student receives a pass certificate of the smart e-course.
Another activation was the physiotherapy robot, used at the physiotherapy centre of the SSSD’s Elderly Home.
The UAE Innovation Month supports the national innovation strategy and contributes to the UAE’s position as a global innovation hub. The month-long celebration encouraged and inspired the public and private sectors as well as individuals to adopt innovative thinking and practices for the greater common good of the people.