Sharjah24 : More than 120 male and female inmates at the Sharjah Punitive and Correctional Establishment, were targeted with different programs designed by Sharjah Museums Authority (SMA) as part of its commitment to accessibility and social responsibility.

Inmates hailed the positive initiative and said they entertained, educated them and also encouraged them to follow the right path. 

On September 12th, Sharjah Art Museum organised an online lecture about the differences between two and three dimension works and how to utilise available material to create a work of art. 

September 21 will see Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation introduce inmates to the steps of recycling paper to help spread a culture of reduce, reuse and recycle.

The programs which kicked off in Ramadan will end with a workshop on Arabic calligraphy that targets 20 inmates on October 4.

Manal Ataya, Director General of Sharjah Museums Authority (SMA) that such programs are in line with their “accessibility for all“ mission and particularly in this instance, supports rehabilitation and overall wellbeing of inmates by  providing an outlet via a cultural exhibition experience, and opportunities to enjoy learning an new skill in our onsite workshops. We believe that this contributes to them becoming active, positive members of the community at the time of their release.  

Among seven programs on this year’s calendar was Al “Ruqʿah Handwriting” workshop by Sharjah Calligraphy Museum, which targeted 14 inmates while the “Stone Engraving” by Khor Fakkan Fort catered to 20 others. 

An extensive training course aimed at enabling 10 male inmates of delivering professional tours at the “Treasures from Sharjah Museums’’ temporary exhibition organized by SMA at the Punitive and Correctional Establishment, showcasing selected Sharjah Museums collection, has been carried out by Sharjah Museums of Islamic Civilization, Sharjah Heritage Museum, Sharjah Archaeology Museum and Sharjah Calligraphy Museum throughout the months of August and September. 

During this course, inmates were educated about the importance of museums, collections, qualities of a tour guide, efficient communication between guides and audiences. 

An online lecture held in English language by Bait Al Nabooda last month about “UAE Culture” told inmates of the country’s rich history, heritage, traditions and costumes, traditional sports as well as the connection linking coffee to Emiratis’ hospitality.

The programs come after a memorandum of understanding was signed between Sharjah Museums Authority and Sharjah Police General Directorate in 2018 to educate inmates and provide them with information that would contribute to their rehabilitation and return to being productive members of the community.