The Sharjah Child Friendly Office (SCFO), a subsidiary of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, has launched the ‘Sharjah Child FriendlyAcademy’ that will support institutions and community organisations in adopting and improving child-friendly environments and experiences across the emirate.

The launch of the academy comes as part of a strategic move to bring all the programmes and workshops which SCFO has been conducting regularly since its establishment in 2016, under one roof. This will help establish a comprehensive database of its activities and participants that will contribute significantly to streamlining administrative processes and organisation.

The academy will deliver high-quality certified training workshops and sessions to professionals and members of the community at large, as well as produce scientific and educational material, awareness campaigns, and resource packs that will be made available for free on its social media accounts on YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp Business, Twitter and Instagram (@SCFOAcademy). The academy will also share recordings of the training sessions for free on YouTube and Telegram.

Speaking about the launch of the academy, Dr Hessa Al Ghazal, Executive Director of SCFO, said: “This is another strategic milestone in our community-led approach to focus on issues relating to supporting and nurturing children and youth. We are keen on benefitting all members of the community including parents, caregivers, and specialists in relevant institutions, based on the directives and vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs.”

“The academy will support in institutionalising child rights and issues in all fields and ensuring a comprehensive and sustained approach to raising the quality of life for children and their families in the emirate. Additionally, our workshops and programmes will be available for free to all those interested in benefiting from the wealth of information, across the UAE and the Arab region,” Al Ghazal added.

The academy’s inaugural training programme by will target medical professionals at accredited child-friendly hospitals and health centres through a specialised course to raise awareness about breastfeeding and its benefits among mothers, and how to support and guide women before and after childbirth.

To help schools prepare for the new academic year, the academy will hold a specialised training programme for school staff in collaboration with Sharjah Education Council, Sharjah Private Education Authority, and UNICEF. It will include sessions on how institutions joining the ‘Child Friendly Schools and Nurseries project’ can design an action plan.

Other sessions being offered by the academy will address child well-being in an educational environment, in addition to child protection case reporting mechanisms and management, and innovative mechanisms to promote child rights in the education community.