Sharjah - Sheikha Jawaher noted that the award's significance lies in the fact that it focuses on developing the life skills and capabilities of young people.
Published: Sun 24 Feb 2019, 6:51 PM
Last updated: Mon 25 Feb 2019, 6:02 PM
Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Rubu' Qarn Foundation for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators, has called on all Emirati youth and young residents (13-18 years) in the UAE to participate in the Sheikh Sultan Award for Celebrating the Spirit of Youth.
Sheikha Jawaher noted that the award's significance lies in the fact that it focuses on developing the life skills and capabilities of young people, and is designed to unleash their true potential. The award integrates academic knowledge, life skills and overall personality development through a mix of physical and value-based learning, Sheikha Jawaher has emphasised, saying that the unique structure of the award has been formulated to nurture creative and productive generations capable of taking on leadership roles.
Award is a response to modern-day challenges
Sheikha Jawaher said the award was launched in line with Sharjah's vision and the UAE Youth Empowerment Strategy (YES), and is a response to special challenges of urbanisation posed to the youth characterised by lack of physical activity and substituting the learning of essential life skills with technology-based entertainment.
Sheikha Jawaher noted that the Sheikh Sultan Award for Celebrating the Spirit of Youth focuses on developing the mental, physical and moral abilities of young people - a multidisciplinary approach to help them reignite their youthful spirit, discover their hidden potential and hone them. "The award clearly encapsulates life's true essence; that's it's a challenge, and hence, success cannot be achieved without pushing one's boundaries and concerted efforts inspired by the integration of skills and the determination to win."
Sheikha Jawaher noted that the ultimate goal of the award is to qualify young people to become active contributors to nation building. "Progress is not quantified by the passage of time; rather by one's conscious efforts, which justify the anticipated outcomes. Simply put, there's no telling that our future will be better than our present; we need to shape in a way that it can benefit from the learnings of the past and present."
Sheikha Jawaher said that the award's choice of age group, which is 13-18 years, is a strategic move to anchor young people as they undergo a sensitive transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Sheikh Sultan: A humanitarian figure for home and the world
Presenting the rationale for naming the award after His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikha Jawaher said that the award's qualities mirror those of the Sharjah Ruler who has been a natural at balancing multiple responsibilities.
The award's message: Everyone's achievements count
Sheikha Jawaher emphasised that one of the key messages the award delivers is winning does not have to be limited to a few; recognition is due to all those who invest their time, effort and diligence in successfully fulfilling its requirements. "The award tries to foster healthy competition, spirit of working together, and promotes a culture of respect for everyone seeking to learn and develop themselves. The award honours all young people who have the desire to excel and will put in the efforts to reach their goals. It is not limited to recognising a select few," Her Highness highlighted.
Sheikha Jawaher underlined that the real competition in life is with the self. The win is manifested by one's ability to surpass one's limitations to unleash their true potential, and channeling it in the best ways to advance one's roles and responsibility.
Her Highness illustrated that the Rubu' Qarn Foundation has not included a monetary component in the Sheikh Sultan Award to show young winners that their accomplishments and their talent are private and public fortune. The award is a way for Sharjah's leadership to show their appreciation for young leaders and recognise their drive for excellence. It is a way to show them their key role in the UAE's continued wellbeing and progress. These goals are priceless," Sheikha Jawaher said.
Her Highness said that while in its first phase the award being launched locally, future editions will hopefully honour young talents around the world.
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