SHARJAH // Emirati children and young adults were invited to voice their concerns and ask questions on national identity and social life in the UAE at this year's third session of the Sharjah Children's Shura Council.
Organised by the Children's Centres Department at the Higher Council for Family Affairs at the Amiri Diwan in Sharjah, children questioned the speakers on the topic of inclusiveness in society and national identity.
Speaker Afaf Al Marri, head of social services in Sharjah, said the event marked a turning point in the UAE where children were openly invited to voice their opinions in such a forum.
"It's important for the children as they learn to ask questions about the things that touch their lives. It prepares them for their future. Perhaps one day they will be real politicians.
"It's good for them to know their rights. It's a new thing for society, allowing people to say their opinions and what they want and knowing someone is listening."
Ms Al Marri said the children gained "a sense of empowerment" from the council and it helped policymakers such as herself.
"It gives us an idea of what they want from the social-services department and it is good for us to have this interaction." She hopes in the coming sessions to cover the topic of child protection.
Speaker Fawzia Taresh Rabiah, director of the department of family development at the Ministry of Social Affairs, said children wanted to know more about these issues, such as being aware of the dangers of the likes of cyber bullying and entrapment, one of the many questions asked yesterday.
She agreed that such forthright discussion marks significant social change. "The children kept badgering me to give them the right answer. They badgered me to give the response they wanted, they weren't just asking a question and then accepting the response. It was beautiful and I was fascinated."
Modernising the teaching of UAE heritage by using tablets and games was an issue that came up, as was the poor quality of Arabic among young Emiratis.
mswan@thenational.ae
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 640hp
Torque: 760nm
On sale: 2026
Price: Not announced yet
The most expensive investment mistake you will ever make
When is the best time to start saving in a pension? The answer is simple – at the earliest possible moment. The first pound, euro, dollar or dirham you invest is the most valuable, as it has so much longer to grow in value. If you start in your twenties, it could be invested for 40 years or more, which means you have decades for compound interest to work its magic.
“You get growth upon growth upon growth, followed by more growth. The earlier you start the process, the more it will all roll up,” says Chris Davies, chartered financial planner at The Fry Group in Dubai.
This table shows how much you would have in your pension at age 65, depending on when you start and how much you pay in (it assumes your investments grow 7 per cent a year after charges and you have no other savings).
|
Age
|
$250 a month
|
$500 a month
|
$1,000 a month
|
|
25
|
$640,829
|
$1,281,657
|
$2,563,315
|
|
35
|
$303,219
|
$606,439
|
$1,212,877
|
|
45
|
$131,596
|
$263,191
|
$526,382
|
|
55
|
$44,351
|
$88,702
|
$177,403
|
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Borussia Dortmund v Paderborn (11.30pm)
Saturday
Bayer Leverkusen v SC Freiburg (6.30pm)
Werder Bremen v Schalke (6.30pm)
Union Berlin v Borussia Monchengladbach (6.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Wolfsburg (6.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldof v Bayern Munich (6.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Cologne (9.30pm)
Sunday
Augsburg v Hertha Berlin (6.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Mainz (9pm)
The Farewell
Director: Lulu Wang
Stars: Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Diana Lin, Tzi Ma
Four stars
The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter
1. Dubai silk road
2. A geo-economic map for Dubai
3. First virtual commercial city
4. A central education file for every citizen
5. A doctor to every citizen
6. Free economic and creative zones in universities
7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes
8. Co-operative companies in various sectors
9: Annual growth in philanthropy
Ashes 2019 schedule
August 1-5: First Test, Edgbaston
August 14-18: Second Test, Lord's
August 22-26: Third Test, Headingley
September 4-8: Fourth Test, Old Trafford
September 12-16: Fifth Test, Oval
