ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA), the second Early Childhood Development (WED) Forum has commenced at Erth Hotel, Abu Dhabi, as part of Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week.
In attendance were Her Highness Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority Board of Trustees; Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority; as well as global experts, specialists, and decision-makers.
H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, said early childhood development (ECD) played a significant role in fostering children's intellectual and emotional growth, and emphasised the importance of enriching educational and media content for children to align with the evolving digital age. Her Highness called for collective efforts to bridge gaps in traditional education and media while embracing cultural diversity.
Her Highness also highlighted the UAE's efforts to support children's rights across various domains, establishing itself as a global leader in child protection and welfare. The UAE has pioneered initiatives and projects dedicated to raising future generations and has set an example by implementing laws that reinforce the child’s place in society.
Her Highness also underscored the significance of the WED Forum as an event that strengthens the early childhood sector and highlighted the forum's essential role in advancing research.
The two-day forum is bringing together participants across various formats to shape actionable outcomes and drive innovation to advance the local and international ECD agenda. The forum features 25 interactive debates, panels and talks, expert-led masterclasses, collaborative workshops, and roundtables led by 60 expert speakers from across 20 sectors.
Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Chair of WED, said: “The WED Movement has taken shape in the UAE as a pillar of the vision of our late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Driven by the belief that children are a nation’s truest form of wealth, we propel his vision forward by investing in individuals, families, and society as a whole. This investment must always begin with the youngest members of society: our children.
“An ever-evolving world means ever-evolving challenges, and both parents and children must constantly learn to navigate new frontiers. Banding together to create a better future for children is now a pressing need. We tackle our challenge head-on through human-centric innovation and cutting-edge research, underscoring the UAE’s commitment to ensuring a lasting foundation for future generations’ growth and prosperity globally.”
Underscored by the WED Movement’s commitment to drive long-term, meaningful outcomes in the lives of children, families, and society, the WED Forum aims to inspire new dialogues and work towards the future prosperity of all children.
Reem Al Hashimy said: “Today we are here, together, to create and root a platform so powerful that it will drive long-term momentum for experts, parents, policymakers, and disruptors to tackle the challenges our children face today, and those they will face in the future.”
The first day of the forum featured a series of insightful discussions focused on a variety of topics related to ECD. During a masterclass titled How did our ancestors use storytelling?
Sheikha Hala Mohammed Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of NUWAH Foundation, said: “An artist, poet or a storyteller can shed light on their culture and traditions by using tools from the past to channel children’s curiosity and interactivity. Children’s curiosity is channelled only through education or family, by providing their kids with access to activities allowing them to explore their hobbies and interests, thus channelling their curiosity.”
The 2024 WED Forum will explore the formative years of early childhood from a variety of perspectives and demonstrate how we can collectively play a role in shaping thriving societies by unlocking the potential of children. The forum aspires to serve as a platform for policymakers, experts, practitioners, and stakeholders from across sectors and regions of the world to share knowledge and exchange ideas in the field of ECD.
During day one, the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and the Abu Dhabi Authority for Heritage signed an agreement to strengthen bilateral cooperation and achieve shared goals. This partnership aims to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and proactively address challenges, reinforcing Abu Dhabi's role in heritage preservation and promoting national identity values.
The agreement establishes a joint framework to support child development from pregnancy to age eight, fostering growth and reinforcing positive behaviours. It also enables efficient project implementation and data sharing, while raising awareness of each organisation’s contribution towards a shared vision, ensuring mutually beneficial outcomes.
As part of Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week, the three-day ECD Research Convening also continued, bringing together more than 90 researchers from the UAE, Arab region, and Africa, to tackle challenges and explore opportunities to create a more representative science of ECD. Running in parallel with these events, a series of city-wide activations led by key partners will commence from 31 October and continue throughout the rest of the week.
The second edition of The Early Childhood Development Fair will also begin from 31 October and run until 2 November at Umm Al Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi, which is sponsored by the National Academy for Childhood Development and aims to create an interactive environment for members of the community to engage with leading providers of educational and recreational programmes, services, and activities.
Key partners of Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week include the National Academy for Childhood Development, Mubadala, ADQ, Aldar, E&, MODON, the Department of Culture and Tourism, ADNOC, Pure Health, Emirates Foundation, the Department of Municipalities and Transport, the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, the Abu Dhabi Department of Community Development, ADEK, Abu Dhabi Media Network and Erth.