Two seminars were held on Wednesday evening (16 November) at Bait Mohammed bin Khalifa, as part of the Al Ain Book Festival 2022, organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), from 14 to 20 November under the slogan ‘All Eyes on Al Ain’.
The seminars centred around social, educational, and youth issues that are of great interest to Emirati society. The first session, titled ‘How Do We Prepare Our Children for Education?’, addressed the topics of good parenting and how to prepare children for a better future, with Educational Advisor Dr. Azza Alsubaie as guest speaker.
Dr. Alsubaie praised the UAE’s efforts in promoting national identity among children and youth, stressing that the Arabic language and culture should be at the basis of raising children in the Arab world, because language is more than just a means of expression and communication, it shapes our world perception and identity, and informs our culture. Alsubaie also called on parents to raise their children to be proud of their Arab Emirati identity, their history, values, and culture, stressing the importance of taking pride in national identity and embracing other cultures at the same time.
Dr. Alsubaie went on to note the importance of parents listening to their children and understanding their problems, without reprimanding them, as well as being involved in their children’s education. The UAE has also taken vital steps in supporting parents through organising parents forums and establishing the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, which supports holistic early childhood development.
The second session ‘Supporting Innovation and Enhancing Talents: The Path to Sustainable Development’ hosted a number of young Emirati talents, including inventor Ali Al Kaabi, who explained how curiosity, imagination, exploration, experimentation, and the right nurturing environment help children cultivate their creativity and innovative thinking. Al Kaabi also expressed his gratitude to the UAE for embracing, encouraging, and supporting talents and innovations through the many initiatives and grants offered by the government.
The session was also attended by Omar Salem, a mechanic, who talked about his own life and work experience, where he managed to turn his struggles into a success story in the field of cars development, gaining recognition and many awards in this field.
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