Young storytellers' camp kicks off at Sharjah University City

The camp runs from 4 to 14 August 2025, four days a week (Monday to Thursday), from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It features 24 interactive workshops blending art, heritage, and storytelling. The programme aims to enhance children’s awareness of national identity and inspire creative expression through tales drawn from travellers' journeys, most notably those of Ibn Battuta.

Instilling heritage values in the young

His Excellency Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of Sharjah Institute for Heritage, stated that the fourth edition of the Narrator Summer Camp is part of the Institute’s annual educational and cultural initiatives. The aim is to instil heritage values in younger generations and to enrich their appreciation of traditional storytelling through engaging, knowledge-driven activities that nurture self-expression and creativity.

He added: "The camp serves as a preparatory platform ahead of the 25th edition of the Sharjah International Narrator Forum, by providing an inspiring space where children can interact with elements of heritage in a modern setting. It helps foster a generation that is mindful of oral storytelling traditions and committed to preserving cultural heritage in ways that resonate with today’s youth."

Preparing future narrators

Aisha Al Hossan Al Shamsi, Director of the Arabian Heritage Centre, noted that this year’s camp represents a qualitative leap in cultural engagement with children. It lays the groundwork for deeper youth participation in the upcoming Sharjah International Narrator Forum. She added: "This educational and cultural programme reflects the Institute’s vision of embedding identity and collective memory in the hearts of young people."

"At the Arabian Heritage Centre, we are committed to delivering engaging educational content that connects children to their heritage in fun and interactive ways. We don’t just pass down stories — we’re shaping a new generation of young narrators capable of reimagining and expressing them in the language of today."

Diverse workshops and notable themes

The camp’s programme includes workshops in storytelling, handicrafts, visual arts, recycling, textile making, and model crafting. Highlighted sessions include: Tales of Ibn Battuta, Design your own travel journal, Make your necklace, The hourglass, The sailing ship painting, and The explorer’s badge.

Explorer’s badge to mark the finale

The camp concludes on Thursday, 14 August 2025, with a ceremony honouring the participating children and awarding them the Explorer’s Badge, in recognition of their active participation and efforts in this enriching cultural and educational journey — empowering them as young creatives who carry and express the memory of the nation with confidence.