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Sheikha Al Mansouri, Director of the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children in Dubai, confirmed in statements to Al Bayan that one of the most prominent challenges facing families is the impact of the digital revolution on cultural identity, as it is considered the most prominent challenge in raising children in the modern era, pointing out the importance of raising awareness and enhancing the technological skills of fathers and mothers.
This came on the sidelines of the conclusion of the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children’s “Education Forum: Challenges of the Age”, which was organised under the slogan “Building Tomorrow’s Generations”, in the presence of Her Excellency Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority, and Ahmed Darwish Al Qama Al Muhairi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children.
At the end of the forum, a set of important recommendations was announced that aim to enhance the concepts of modern education and keep pace with digital challenges. They focused on the various stages of psychological and social development of children and youth, namely: addressing the challenges of electronic transformation, shedding light on the digital quality of life policy and the importance of raising awareness of its risks.
Raising awareness among parents and educators about the dangers of digital life, emphasizing the balance between digital and real life, banning websites that threaten moral values and violent games, taking values and ethics into account when exchanging information online, and the need to deal with the virtual world according to the age group appropriate for children.
Sheikha Al Mansouri explained that the forum supports Dubai Social Agenda 33 and confirms the Foundation’s commitment to providing a healthy educational environment for children. The recommendations that emerged from the forum at the conclusion of its work constitute a roadmap that contributes to achieving a balance between technological development and family values in Emirati society, and allows families and institutions concerned with children to follow it, within a healthy and sound educational environment that contributes to raising generations capable of leading society towards a better and sustainable future.
She also pointed out that the recommendations contribute to spreading awareness among parents and educators about the importance of balancing digital and real life, and enhancing the community’s ability to deal wisely and responsibly with technology, noting that the Foundation’s efforts are not limited to addressing educational issues in their traditional context, but rather seek to innovate in how to confront modern challenges, such as the negative effects of the digital world, to ensure the upbringing of generations that possess moral values and the ability to adapt to the future.
Great efforts
Al Mansouri added that the Foundation is leading great efforts towards building empowered generations capable of contributing to the sustainable development process, through innovating educational solutions and awareness, stressing the Foundation’s deep commitment to its pioneering role in promoting sound education and providing generations with the tools and capabilities necessary to face current and future challenges, noting at the same time that the Foundation has been working for years to implement programs and initiatives aimed at strengthening the family environment.
Providing psychological and social support to children and women, in line with strategies, keeping pace with national projects, and meeting the aspirations and visions of the wise leadership in achieving sustainable development, through developing innovative educational strategies based on the latest scientific research.
For his part, Dr. Jassim Al Marzouqi, a psychological consultant, stressed during the session he presented within the psychological axis the necessity of paying attention to the different stages of growth and understanding the psychological needs of each stage, and increasing parents’ awareness of sound parenting methods, taking into account individual differences between children, and establishing sound psychological parenting methods among high school and university students through curricula and educational activities.
For her part, Dr. Ghanima Al-Bahri presented a number of recommendations within the social axis, including expanding quantitative and qualitative research related to educational issues within the family, disseminating positive parenting practices on the widest scale, and measuring the impact of community programs to ensure their effectiveness in reality.
