Sharjah: The 13th Edition of Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) was formally opened for public as H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in the presence of Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah inaugurated the event.
Organized by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the 13th Edition of SCRF will run from the 11th of May to the 22nd at the Expo Centre Sharjah.
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Sheikh Salem bin Abdul Rahman Al Qasimi, Head of the Ruler’s Office, Sheikh Sultan bin Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Director of the Department of Statistics and Community Development welcomed the Ruler of Sharjah at the venue. Numerous heads of local departments, senior officials, writers, publishers, and representatives of the media were also present at the arrival of Sheikh Sultan.
After formally inaugurating the event by cutting the ribbons, Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad watched a singing performance by a group of Sharjah children and toured the various corridors of the festival.
Sheikh Sultan acquainted himself with the various activities and events offered by the festival for children, as well as the pavilions of the educational and cultural entities participating in the festival.
Two children Mohammed Master Sami Saif Al Haj and Miss Fatima Ahmed Obaid Sandal accompanied the Sharjah Ruler during his tour as he listened to detailed explanations of the participation of the authorities in the festival.
Sheikh Sultan paved a visit to the pavilion of the Emirates School Foundation, Sharjah Education Council, Sharjah Private Education Authority, and the Ministry of Education, where the Sharjah Ruler was briefed about the means and tools of teaching children, in addition to the various educational publications provided by authorities.
The Ruler also visited pavilions by government institutions working in the field of publishing, support, care and education of children.
A few of the pavilions visited by Sheikh Sultan at the event included;
- Rubu’ Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators
- Contemporary Crafts Council (Irthi)
- Sharjah Police General Command
- Department of Culture
- Kalimat Group
- Sharjah Heritage Institute
- Department of Statistics and Community Development
- Health Education Department and the Child Safety Department of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs
- UAE Board on Books for Young People and
- Sharjah Broadcasting Authority
Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad also reviewed a number of activities dedicated to developing children’s skills in various scientific and creative fields.
Ruler of Sharjah concluded his tour by visiting the Sharjah Children’s Book Illustrations Exhibition, where he was introduced to the exhibition’s drawings by participants from the United Arab Emirates and various countries of the world.