Sharjah shows it cares for children
If we are to create a sustainable and well-balanced society in the future, we have to ensure we nurture and care for our children today, while giving them the opportunity to shape their communities. This is the reasoning behind the Unicef Child Friendly Cities Initiative.
A child friendly city guarantees the right of every young citizen to influence decisions and express their opinions, participate in family and community life, receive basic services such as healthcare, education and shelter, safe water, access to proper sanitation, protection from exploitation, violence and abuse, availability of play, leisure, and green spaces, and participation in cultural and social events, irrespective of ethnic origin, religion, gender or ability.
Sharjah is actively seeking to join the Unicef Child Friendly Cities initiative, because it recognises the value it brings to the community. Sharjah’s efforts in this regard represent the culmination of over four decades of commitment from His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wife, Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, who have spared no effort to make the emirate an ideal place for children.
The emirate has launched numerous initiatives over the years in support of children and in recognition of the need to nurture their development. The first Boy Scouts and Girl Guides Associations in the UAE were established in Sharjah, and the first library dedicated to children, too, was opened in Al Rifa’a District in 1985. It was later developed to become a centre targeting children aged 6-12 years. Today, Sharjah is home to 14 children’s centres.
In 1997, Sharjah Children Centres launched the Sharjah Children Shura Council. The council is a mock parliamentary platform which represents children aged 8-12 years and is formulated by free election for two years. Sharjah is considered a pioneer in the implementation of this project in the Gulf countries and the Arab world.
To create a youth leadership base, Sharjah Youth Centres were established in 2003 to contribute to building the future of the emirate. The following year, the Girls’ Centres were established with the aim of developing the talents of girls in all creative fields. It became an independent body in 2012 under the name of Sajaya Young Ladies of Sharjah.
The emirate also takes children’s needs into consideration in various aspects — from creating child-friendly public places, workplaces, health institu- tions, and nurseries to promote and encourage breastfeeding for a healthier start to life, in addition to dedicating some its largest annual events to youngsters, such as the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, Sharjah International Children’s Film Festival, Sharjah Children Biennial, dedicating entire sections to children’s publishers and children’s events and activities at the Sharjah International Book Fair — the third largest book fair in the world.
The attention given by the emirate’s leadership to children and adolescents was clearly manifested in the administrative decision issued by Sheikha Jawaher establishing ‘Rubu’ Qarn (Quarter of a Century) — Foundation for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators, in September 2016 — which brings together four children’s institutions.
These are just some of the initiatives launched by Sharjah that care for young people and involve them in shaping their city. The emirate’s strategy for its young represents a key indicator of sustainable human development, where it has embraced a forward-looking vision that believes in involving children and young people in the present and future.
On the occasion of Universal Children’s Day, I would like to point to the special publication released by Unicef, which included a special article written by Sneha Binu Joseph (16 year old), about her hometown Sharjah, and why the emirate is a child-friendly city.
Anyone who has ever visited or lived in Sharjah will realise that everything within it welcomes children and offers opportunities of care and love for them.
The emirate’s strategy for its young people represents a key indicator of sustainable human development, where it activates the participation of children and young people