Sharjah Children: Cultivating Future Parliamentary Leaders

60 new members

The workshops, held under the theme "Community Service: Leadership," saw the participation of 60 new members from various centres of the foundation in the Emirate of Sharjah.

Parliamentary Culture

His Excellency Ayman Othman Al Barout, Secretary-General of the Arab Parliament for the Child (APC), presented a workshop titled "Parliamentary Culture," which addressed the basic concepts of parliamentary work, from the structure of parliament and its working mechanisms to the importance of scientific research, critical thinking, and constructive dialogue in supporting children's parliamentary skills.

Speech and Effective Communication Skills

Sharjah Children also presented a workshop titled "Speech and Effective Communication Skills," which focused on enhancing children's skills in using body language consciously and in harmony with the content of their conversation. It also focused on developing their ability to confidently express their ideas by controlling their tone of voice, employing gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact, thus conveying an influential presence and clear messages.

The focus also was on developing the art of conscious listening and fostering positive interaction with the audience.

Future Leaders

Khawla Al Hawai, Director of Sharjah Children, emphasised that the workshops fall within the framework of the Foundation's commitment to its role as a community partner in building informed and influential generations, noting that the new members represent a true nucleus of future leaders.

Al Hawai said that Sharjah Children is working to empower these members with the skills that qualify them to be a voice that represents their peers and an effective channel for conveying their opinions and issues to decision-makers. Sharjah Children believes that instilling a culture of consultation and dialogue at this age contributes to the formation of a generation that is responsible and capable of positive influence.

APC support

Al Hawai added that cooperation with APC provides qualitative support for the Parliament experience and provides members with a valuable opportunity to learn about broader experiences that enhance their parliamentary awareness and broaden their leadership and knowledge horizons.

Sharjah Children Parliament is one of the country's pioneering initiatives. Its first session was launched in 1997 under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to provide a genuine platform enabling children to discuss their issues and express their opinions within an experience that mimics real-life parliamentary practices.

The workshops saw remarkable interaction from the new members, who expressed their enthusiasm and willingness to take on the responsibility of representing the aspirations of their peers and contributing to building a more conscious future based on participation, knowledge, and constructive dialogue.