Sharjah Museums Authority empowers youth

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Sharjah Museums Authority (SMA) celebrates International Youth Day, observed annually on August 12, by reaffirming its unwavering commitment to empowering young people.

This global occasion provides a vital opportunity to highlight the Authority’s pivotal role and significant achievements in youth empowerment, embodying the vision of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who eloquently stated, "Museums are made to educate our children and our future generations."

SMA’s museums offer innovative learning methodologies that blend enjoyment with education, safeguarding collections, and shaping both present and future narratives.

They communicate their message as historical and cultural repositories, underpinned by a profound understanding of their historical significance and values. Moreover, SMA is dedicated to ensuring its museums are accessible to all community members and visitors.

In pursuit of these goals, SMA actively engages youth through a variety of unique programmes and initiatives aimed at supporting and enhancing their skills, forming a core component of its ambitious mission and vision.

Aligned with its strategic direction to expand museum outreach, SMA launched the unique and unprecedented “Museums Express” initiative, designed to reach thousands of young people in schools, universities, and community events.

This initiative features a bus transformed into a mobile museum traveling across various regions. It offers an exceptional interactive educational experience that fosters creative thinking and appreciation for history and heritage.

The initiative also promotes collaboration with educational and local institutions, providing young people the opportunity to explore museum treasures and understand the captivating stories behind them. “Museums Express” has so far reached over 12,000 students from schools and universities across Sharjah and the Northern Emirates.

'Visit museums in Sharjah'

Aisha Rashid Deemas, Director General of Sharjah Museums Authority, extended her congratulations to Emirati youth on this occasion, emphasising the Authority's critical role in empowering youth by providing a stimulating educational environment that encourages talent discovery and skill development.

She highlighted the importance of cultural and social awareness through specialised and innovative programmes and initiatives aimed at attracting youth to museum sciences and enhancing their knowledge of museums' societal roles.

Deemas urged young people to visit museums in Sharjah to explore the rich treasures documenting key historical and societal milestones of the UAE.

She further noted that the wise leadership has embraced policies and initiatives to support and empower youth, including the Sheikh Sultan Award for Youth Energy. His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, has offered paternal advice, saying, " We say to the young men and women, give us a little of your time to practise sports, volunteering, adventures, etc., and you will first benefit a lot physically, intellectually, etc. When you win the Sheikh Sultan Award for Celebrating the Spirit of Youth, even the community and the neighbourhood will talk about your achievement and will be happy for you."

The annual "Sharjah Museums Ambassadors" programme, now in its 16th edition, underscores SMA’s dedication and ambition to raise awareness about the importance of museum guidance, develop participants’ skills across various domains, and prepare them for future careers in museums.

This program, which targets youth aged 13 to 17 and involves 20 participants from across the UAE in each edition, has demonstrated significant success, with 50 participants between 2020 and 2023. As of 2024, 23 participants have already registered, with the program set to commence on August 12th.

The Sharjah Museums Authority is a leading entity committed to aligning with the visionary guidance of the UAE's leadership in supporting and empowering youth.

The Authority continuously provides opportunities and programmes aimed at developing youth skills and enhancing their participation in all cultural and artistic fields, in line with the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who famously said, " A country's greatest investment lies in building generations of educated and knowledgeable youth."

His legacy continues through the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, who has emphasised the crucial role of youth in nation-building, stating, " Youth are the strength, energy, ambition, and wealth of our nation. As the leaders of tomorrow they will be at the heart of our ongoing progress and must be enabled to contribute effectively to the UAE’s future development and prosperity. " Guided by these enlightened visions, the Sharjah Museums Authority remains steadfast in its journey to support youth and provide an environment conducive to their growth and innovation.