In a captivating display of commitment to safeguarding the welfare of young ones, the Child Safety Department (CSD), affiliated with the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, has curated a delightful assortment of edutainment activities at its interactive stand, tailored to augment awareness on child safety in an attractive way, for attendees of the 14th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival at the Sharjah Expo Center.

Comprising four engaging pillars that stretch over the 12-day cultural festival, the CSD’s awareness showcase is spearheaded by the ‘Memory Game’, a thought-provoking initiative that challenges young participants to assimilate and memorise critical emergency hotline numbers, such as Fire Department (Civil Defence), Police and Ambulance. This informative undertaking is in response to the department’s previous survey, conducted during the last edition of the SCRF, which revealed that a staggering 82% of children were oblivious to essential emergency phone numbers, indispensable in summoning assistance during real-life emergencies, which urged the CSD to continue the quest of raising awareness on this issue.

Another activity at the CSD stand was the “Safe Trip” game, which provides a comprehensive lesson on the various safety measures and precautions to take while embarking on an adventure in the great outdoors. Through interactive gameplay, children were able to learn about the proper attire and equipment to bring along during excursions to the beach or desert, which contribute to the prevention of injuries during outdoor activities, and ensuring that they remain safe and secure throughout their journey. The game also highlighted the importance of having a first aid kit to handle simple injuries.

The interactive stand has proven to be a treasure trove of awareness-raising resources, including a rich assortment of awareness storybooks available in digital format via QR code. These captivating books, designed to cultivate a culture of safety among young readers and their families, impart invaluable insights into fundamental safety protocols, all while inspiring a love of reading.

Another CSD fun-filled experience on offer is the Hakawati “Storyteller” edutainment activity, in which Haya Qasim is spreading awareness among visitors to CSD’s stand through stories and tales that address the youth throughout the festival. The sessions give awareness a thrilling narrative pull to encourage children to to engage and participate in the activities.

Commenting on the participation, Hanadi Al Yafei, Director of CSD, said: “The Child Safety Department is committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children in the UAE, and our presence at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival 2023 is a testament to our unwavering mission and dedication to reach a wider audience, particularly those who visit bookfairs, cultural festivals, and other events across Sharjah. This is part of CSD’s strategy, plans and inclusive annual campaign that seek to further awareness efforts through appealing fun edutainment activities about child safety rules and procedures that protect them physically, psychologically and emotionally from dangers and risks, whether in their everyday life, or online when they are using the internet.

The CSD welcomes families of Sharjah and the UAE to its stand at the festival, promising an enlightening experience in safety rules and procedures, interlaced with entertaining awareness activities that stimulate children to read, enjoy and engage with a never-seen-before awareness edutainment fun experience.