Sharjah gains insight into child, youth welfare practices in Sweden

During the visit of Social Insurance Agency in Sweden.

A high-level Sharjah delegation led by the Executive Office of Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Rubu' Qarn for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators, has met with a number of high-ranking officials in Sweden to exchange expertise with Swedish children's welfare institutions which work towards the development of a safe and creatively stimulating environment for children and young adults.
The delegation comprised a number of organisations including: Rubu' Qarn for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators, Child Safety Campaign - an affiliate of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA), and the Sharjah Social Services Department (SSSD).
In the course of the visit, the Swedish officials shared the nation's history, its incentive programmes for young entrepreneurs, its child protection policies, youth empowerment and its vision for future generations.
The delegation's visit to Sweden's child protection service centre, Barnahus, was a follow-up to the visit of Sheikha Jawaher in 2015. They met the Stockholm Manager, Anna Friberg, and learned more about the centre's pioneering environment for children who have been victims of crime and abuse, where they can describe their experiences in a non-threatening atmosphere for the benefit of investigations by social services, the police, the public prosecutor's office, child psychiatrists and psychologists.
The centre facilitates all police cases including child abuse and child safety issues through a team of specially trained police officers who only work through the center to investigate and resolve cases, and dedicated state prosecutors who offer speedy justice to young victims. Barnahus' child protection services team offers specialised psycho-social support and a medical team to record and reports signs of physical abuse - all these government bodies work through Barnahus to ensure child safety and reintegrate those affected back to a healthy life.
Also on the tour agenda, was a visit to Fryshuset, often referred to as the largest youth centre in the world, working with youth on a wide range of issues across mostly urban areas in Sweden. The main objective of this visit was to gain an insight into what kind of entrepreneurial services and support it offers to youth keen on exploring entrepreneurial opportunities, and how the organisation tackles a wide range of issues mostly across urban areas in Sweden.
Other members in the Sharjah delegation included representatives of several entities including Sheikha Hind bint Majed Al Qassimi, Acting Chairperson, Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) - an affiliate of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment (NAMA); and Nada Al Lawati, Executive Board Member, NAMA.

• Sharjah