Sharjah24: Sharjah Museums Authority (SMA) is celebrating the International Day of Older Persons on October 1st, with a series of programs designed to recognise the invaluable contribution of senior citizens to Sharjah’s sustainable development.
The annual celebration is rooted in the social and religious values of honoring and respecting older members of society.
The event underscores SMA's ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment that enhances the quality of life for senior citizens and facilitates their access to cultural and educational activities at its museums.
These efforts aim to foster social integration and encourage the active participation of elderly people in cultural and social life.
As part of its participation, SMA will join the "Our Elderly Citizens: Our Pride and Role Models" event, organized by the Sharjah Social Services Department – Elderly Home in Al Juraina on October 1, 2024.
During the event, Sharjah Museums will present a workshop on Islamic inscriptions, introducing older adults to the beauty of Islamic arts and offering them the opportunity to engage with this rich cultural heritage.
Speaking on SMA’s commitment, Aisha Rashid Deemas, Director General of Sharjah Museums Authority, said: “SMA is committed to enhancing the status of older adults in society as a national responsibility and as a tribute to a group that has played a pivotal role in our development.
“We believe that older persons make invaluable contributions that deserve to be supported and celebrated. That is why we strive to provide a museum environment that caters to their needs and strengthens their sense of belonging and participation. This reflects Sharjah’s vision as an age-friendly city, where we make every effort to improve the quality of life for older people and foster their contribution to building a more inclusive society,” she added.
SMA's policies, programs and services have shown remarkable success in achieving these objectives.
Services include wheelchair-accessible parking, ramps, designated restrooms, and automatic doors for easy access.
SMA also provides wheelchairs and guided tours using sound amplification devices for visitors with hearing impairments, while ensuring appropriate lighting in all galleries for a smooth and comfortable experience.
Additionally, older adults aged 60 and above, along with a companion, are granted free entry to all museums in the emirate, reaffirming SMA's dedication to accommodating the needs of older persons and encouraging repeat visits and senior citizens’ regular participation in various programs and activities.
As part of its community partnership initiatives, the Sharjah Maritime Museum organized a dialogue session titled "Ramssat Ahl Al Bahar" (The Sea People’s Chat), where older adults learned about the rich maritime heritage and enjoyed intriguing stories about past maritime life. Another session, titled "Marine Trade," focused on the significance of marine trade in Sharjah’s history.
Creative workshops such as Dukhoon Making and Rosary Crafting were also held and attended by members of the Al Asala Clubs, along with other creative sessions like Silk Printing.
The Sharjah Aquarium hosted six special visits featuring educational tours through the aquarium halls for older adults, where they explored marine life and observed divers feeding the fish. The visits also included hands-on workshops, such as Touching Marine Creatures and Pearl and Shell Crafting, along with a relaxing tour to enjoy the scenic marine views.
These visits were designed to offer older adults a rich cultural and educational experience, emphasizing opportunities for them to participate in art and craft activities inspired by the marine environment, like Palm Weaving into Fish Shapes.
In addition, the Sharjah Heritage Museum welcomed a group of older adults from the Sharjah Elderly Care Home as part of the “Cultural Convergence Between the United Arab Emirates and the People's Republic of China” event, held in celebration of World Heritage Day.
This event highlighted the deep cultural ties between the two countries through a variety of activities, including musical performances, painting, and more, all aimed at integrating older adults into society and promoting cultural exchange.
SMA remains dedicated to supporting older adults through long-term plans that ensure the continuity of these engagements. Its strategic plan for 2024-2026 includes activities designed to maintain Sharjah’s membership in the Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities.
The plan features a broad range of programs and workshops tailored for elderly citizens, ensuring their continued engagement through six dialogue sessions, twelve external visits, and nine workshops, all reflecting SMA’s ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for older persons.
Notably, the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, Sharjah Maritime Museum, and Sharjah Aquarium were included in the first round of the Age-Friendly Institutions initiative in 2020, having met the initiative’s engineering, service, and accessibility standards.
Recently, the Sharjah Archaeology Museum joined this initiative, further reinforcing SMA's continuous commitment to providing distinguished services for older adults across all its museums.
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