Under Theyab bin Mohamed's Patronage, 2nd Early Childhood Development Forum Kicks Off in Abu Dhabi

Photo : Abu Dhabi Media Office

Abu Dhabi recently hosted the second Early Childhood Development (WED) Forum at Erth Hotel, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing celebration of Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week. This important event was held under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, and the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA).

The forum welcomed an array of distinguished guests, including Her Highness Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority Board of Trustees, and Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. Also present were global experts, specialists, and key decision-makers from various sectors, emphasizing the forum’s international reach and significance.

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During the event, Her Highness Sheikha Latifa highlighted the vital role of early childhood development (ECD) in nurturing children's intellectual and emotional growth. She stressed the importance of adapting educational and media content for children to meet the challenges posed by the evolving digital landscape. Her Highness called for a unified effort to bridge the gaps between traditional education and media while embracing cultural diversity to enrich children's learning experiences.

Furthermore, Sheikha Latifa underscored the UAE's commitment to supporting children's rights across different domains, establishing the nation as a global leader in child protection and welfare. The UAE has pioneered numerous initiatives aimed at nurturing future generations and has enacted laws reinforcing the importance of children's roles in society.

The WED Forum, described by Her Highness as a pivotal event, aims to strengthen the early childhood sector and advance research. The two-day forum brought together participants in various formats to formulate actionable outcomes and drive innovation, advancing both local and international ECD agendas. It featured an impressive lineup of 25 interactive debates, panels, expert-led masterclasses, collaborative workshops, and roundtables, with insights from 60 expert speakers spanning 20 sectors.

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Chair of the WED, remarked on the forum's alignment with the vision of the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. She emphasized that children represent a nation’s true wealth and affirmed the UAE’s commitment to investing in individuals, families, and society, starting with the youngest members.

"An ever-evolving world presents ever-evolving challenges," said Her Excellency Al Hashimy. "Both parents and children must continuously learn to navigate these new frontiers. It is essential that we unite to create a better future for children, employing human-centric innovation and cutting-edge research to lay a strong foundation for future generations’ growth and prosperity on a global scale."

The WED Forum aims to inspire new dialogues and promote the future prosperity of all children, underscoring its commitment to driving long-term, meaningful outcomes in the lives of children and families. "We are here today to establish a powerful platform that will sustain long-term momentum for experts, parents, policymakers, and innovators to address the challenges our children face today and those they will encounter in the future," Her Excellency Al Hashimy added.

The first day of the forum featured a series of insightful discussions on various ECD topics. In a masterclass titled "How Did Our Ancestors Use Storytelling?", Her Excellency Sheikha Hala Mohammed Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of NUWAH Foundation, explained that artists, poets, and storytellers can illuminate their cultures and traditions, utilizing historical tools to engage children's curiosity. She emphasized that fostering curiosity in children is essential and should be supported through education and family involvement, enabling them to explore their interests and passions.

The 2024 WED Forum aims to explore the formative years of early childhood from multiple perspectives, demonstrating how collective efforts can unlock the potential of children and shape thriving societies. The forum serves as a collaborative space for policymakers, experts, practitioners, and stakeholders from diverse sectors and regions to share knowledge and exchange ideas in the field of early childhood development.

On the first day, the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and the Abu Dhabi Authority for Heritage signed a strategic agreement to enhance bilateral cooperation and achieve mutual goals. This partnership aims to streamline operations and improve efficiency while proactively addressing challenges, thereby reinforcing Abu Dhabi's commitment to heritage preservation and promoting national identity values.

The agreement sets up a collaborative framework supporting child development from pregnancy to age eight, fostering healthy growth and positive behaviors. It also facilitates efficient project implementation and data sharing, raising awareness of each organization’s contributions to a shared vision and ensuring beneficial outcomes for the community.

As part of Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week, the three-day ECD Research Convening continued, gathering over 90 researchers from the UAE, Arab region, and Africa to address challenges and explore opportunities to create a more inclusive science of ECD. Concurrently, a series of city-wide activations led by key partners began on October 31 and will continue throughout the week.

The second edition of The Early Childhood Development Fair also commenced on October 31 and runs until November 2 at Umm Al Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi. Sponsored by the National Academy for Childhood Development, the fair aims to create an interactive environment for the community to engage with leading providers of educational and recreational programs, 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.

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