Sharjah Child Friendly Office (SCFO), an affiliate of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA) is highlighting and promoting children’s right to play at the ongoing Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) in Expo Centre Sharjah.

At its interactive pavilion that features a swing, SCFO is showing visitors, especially parents and children, the importance of unstructured play as stipulated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and in alignment with the UAE Child ProtectionLaw (Wadeema).

The entity has taken the opportunity to encourage children to play, given its importance in aiding both their physical and psychological development.SCFO also seeks to underline that play is a key to unlocking several talents and capabilities in children and enables them to gain essential life skills.

Throughout the festival,SCFO will raise the awareness of visitors through a competition that requires visitors to take pictures inside the pavilion and upload the mon Instagram using the hashtag #Sharjahchildfriendly. A cash prize will be given to 2 randomly-selected winners before the conclusion of SCRF 2021 on May 29.

The pavilion is also educating participants and visitors at SCRF 2021 on SCFO’s programmes and initiatives, in addition to promoting Sharjah as the region’s first Child Friendly City as part of UNICEF’s Child Friendly Cities initiative, and highlight the emirate’s achievements to promote and elevate the rights of children with the highest international standards.

The 11-day festival features 537 activities, including 132 workshops and activities, author discussions, dances and theatre.