Under the theme “We creatively innovate…Our UAE”, the 14th edition of the Sharjah Children Council (SCC) will convene for their first session tomorrow (Wednesday) Oct 28, at the Headquarters of the Sharjah Consultative Council, Under the Patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Sharjah Supreme Council for Family Affairs. As an initiative of the General Department of Children Centres, which is a subsidiary of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs. The council, made up entirely of children aged between 8 to 12, will serve for a term of two years under the Presidency of 14 year-old, Jamila Hassan Al Za’abi.
The Deputy President is Rashid Saif Al Tunaiji, Hessa Jassim the Second Deputy President, Ali Mohammed Surour is Secretary and there are 74 council members. In keeping with its slogan the session will host Sarah Amiri, deputy project manager and science lead of the Emirates’ Mars Mission and 14-year-old Fatima Al Kaabi, best known as the youngest Emirati girl innovator for various inventions. Al Kaabi was a member of SCC and participated in a number of international conferences, most notably the 12th Asia-Pacific Talent Conference where she was the youngest participant and inventor. Reem BinKaram, Manager of the General Department of the Sharjah Children Centres, said, “The convening of the 14th edition of the Sharjah Children Council is important as this experience helps to prepare the future generation to actively participate in the development of the UAE. This parliamentary experience, which distinguishes the emirate of Sharjah, was launched in line with the vision of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and later adopted by the wife of Her Highness, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Supreme Council for Family Affairs.”
BinKaram added, “The council’s experience reflects the visionary leadership which seeks to prepare and equip young Emirati citizens to take leadership roles and understand the complexities of governing from a young age,” she added. The Sharjah Children Council aims to raise children’s awareness about the country’s parliamentary life to strengthen children’s principles on the basis of respecting others’ opinion, freedoms and appreciating differences in their personalities. SCC works to instill a sense of responsibility in children and enable them to express their views on issues of interest and concern to them and to engage in articulate dialogue with officials, as well as encourage interest about children’s issues such as upbringing, health, security and the environment. The council aspires to develop a well-educated and conscious generation, aware of real issues and capable of presenting these issues and participating in solving them.