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Child summit to lay emphasis on knowledge and education

DUBAI - Shaikh Maktoum bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum will inaugurate the second Dubai Child Summit at the Hor Al Anz Public Library tomorrow evening.

The 17-day event, comprising educational and cultural activities, promises to open new vistas of knowledge for the children of all age groups and nationalities.

"The summit comes as part of a future vision of the Dubai Municipality that has achieved an all-round development in all segments of the society. It lays special emphasis on nurturing the individual. Considering that children are the country's future, the municipality has taken the initiative to set up children's libraries in various residential areas of the emirate as a first step towards paying attention to children. This summit is yet another step forward in this direction," said Obeid Salim Al Shamsi, Assistant Director-General for Administrative and General Services Affairs at the civic body.

He made the statement at a Press conference yesterday, organised at the municipality to announce the summit.

This year, Mr Al Shamsi added, the summit would be held under the slogan 'ReadÉ AskÉ Say Yes' and would include an exhibition for children and educational specialists who would showcase a variety of educational and cultural materials.

The summit will also include a range of children's activities, quiz competitions (in cooperation with the media), other programmes, art displays (in co-operation with the Dubai Educational Zone) and lectures on various topics.

Mohammed Jassim Al Eraidi, Head of Public Libraries Section that is organising the event, said the summit-related activities would be held in a sprawling tent. The tent would be erected on an open ground near Hor Al Anz Public Library.

"The activities will be conducted from 9am to 1pm and from 4pm to 10pm on weekdays, and only between 4pm and 10pm on Fridays. Some days will be dedicated exclusively to ladies," he said.

The summit's logo, Mr Al Eraidi noted, represented children in different age groups.

"The slogan includes two colours, blue and green. They stand for happiness and joy. In general, the slogan symbolises knowledge and through it we hope that the summit will put a thrust on knowledge for children," he said.

He said several publishing houses, audio-visual libraries, bookshops, stationery shops and computer firms are participating in the exhibition. There are some 73 stands at 25 pavilions for these participants and all of them have been booked.

According to Mr Al Eraidi, there are stands for some public interest organisations, which have also been fully booked. The Ministry of Education In Egypt, the Omani Women's Association, Saudi National Commission Of Childhood, Umm Al Momeneen Women's Association, and the UAE Thalasemia Association, will also participate in the summit.

Dubai Women's Association will participate in the event through Shaikha Latifa bint Mohammed Award for Childhood Creativity.