Entity intensifies efforts to boost awareness in parents, children and youth
For immediate release
Sharjah, July 12, 2020
As ensuring mental and emotional wellbeing of families coping with the myraid stresses of the Coronavirus pandemic becomes a pressing issue globally, the Child Safety Department (CSD) in Sharjah is hosting a two-month ‘Child Safety Summer Camp’ consisting of livestream discussion series in a bid to educate parents, teachers, children and youth on several key topics on children’s safety.
Taking place over the months of July and August, this virtual community awareness drive is being held collaboratively with Sharjah Police, Sharjah Prevention and Safety Authority, Sharjah Child Friendly Office, and a number of childcare experts and doctors. All sessions will be livestreamed on both video confereing applications and CSD’s Instagram account (@childsafetyuae).
Hanadi Saleh Al Yafei, Director of CSD, said: “Our continued endeavour at CSD has been to create a trusted knowledge platform on all child safety issues for parents, childcare professionals, teachers, children and youth. We have intensified our online engagement with our audiences in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, as it is more important than ever to expand our outreach to share information and tools that will boost child safety and overall family wellbeing.”
“Our discussion series this month have been designed in consultation with experts from various fields, and will educate the community on vital issues that may affect their lives. We have timed this series to coincide with the start of the summer break in order to benefit the maximum number of people across age groups,” she added.
Our safe home, July 13 & 15
On July 13, a 1-hour discussion session titled ‘Our safe home’ will be led by Sara Al Dakhtar from the Sharjah Prevention and Safety Authority (SPSA). On July 15, Ayesha Al Zadjali from SPSA will repeat session especially for children and youth. Both sessions will begin at 4:30 pm and will focus on home safety measures and offer practical tips to child-proof homes properly.
I know my rights, Jul 20 & 22
The next one titled ‘I know my rights’ will be held on July 20 and 22 at 4:30pm in cooperation with Sharjah Child Friendly Office (SCFO). The first installment targets the 8 – 11 age group, while the second one will be hels for those aged 12 – 15. Led by Suaad Al Marzooqi, Head of Sharjah Child-Friendly Unit at SCFO, the two discussions aim to introduce participants to the UAE Child Protection Law (Wadeema’s law), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as help children distinguish their rights and responsibilities as well as their ‘needs’ from ‘wants’.
How to be confident, July 28
At 4:30pm on July 28, ‘How to be confident’, will be presented by psychologist Mohammed Ahmed, who will introduce parents to the concept confidence and how to gain it, also helping them discern between confidence and ego.
Earlier this month, CSD hosted three sessions. The first one titled ‘First aid skills’ in collaboration with Sharjah Police was livestreamed by 500 individuals. The second one on ‘Children ingesting foreign objects’ saw an audience of 700 people, that educated parents about the dangers of such behaviour and signs parents must catch in their children if they accidentally swallow a non-food object. The talk also highlighted how to respond and treat such cases, pointing out common first aid mistakes. The third one titled ‘Measures to safeguard children’ elucidated practical steps to protect children physically, psychologically, and online.
The affiliate of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah has confirmed that details of the August discussion series will be released shortly.
