Arabian Child Leadership Conference: The Power of Partnerships (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

Top Quote The Arabian Child Leadership Institute is dedicated to increasing and enhancing the knowledge base, skills and competencies of the early childhood administrator through providing opportunities for advanced training, professional growth, networking and support. End Quote
  • (1888PressRelease) December 08, 2014 - Arabian Child, the lead advocate for the improvement of early childhood in the Middle East, held their annual conference at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai on November 26 and 27, 2014. The conference theme was 'The Power of Partnerships' and its main purpose was to highlight and promote the wide-ranging potential of 'working in partnership' to improve young children's well-being in terms of education, protection and well-being.

    Professionals from different fields (educators, police, academics, health professionals, government officials, etc.) were invited to this unique opportunity to discuss the power of partnerships, learn about current initiatives and approaches used in the UAE and abroad (both within the GCC and overseas) and to network with other professionals and leaders directly or indirectly involved with children's welfare.

    The main speakers represented different sectors and fields: Dr. Tariq Kashmiri (CEO, Arabian Child), Dr. Mary Smith (Edinburgh University, UK), Dr. Clifton Chadwick, (British University in Dubai), Detective Gillian Hall (Scottish Police College, UK), and First Lieutenant Mohammed Al Shehhi (Social Support Centres, Abu Dhabi Police). They addressed delegates and led discussions on the importance of partnership to promote children's protection and their right to quality education. Child protection was emphasized as a national priority and as everybody's responsibility. Arabian Child conveyed a strong message that the future of a nation's children is no longer a matter of moral choice but a social responsibility.

    "Child Protection is not the responsibility of one organization, it is the responsibility of everyone, and the key is to build successful partnerships between organizations and professionals to be able to offer an integrated service for children and families" Said Dr. Tariq Kashmiri, Chairman of Arabian Child.

    Sharing experiences and best practices was a key aspect of the conference. Diverse speakers shared their initiatives and efforts to work collaboratively in education, health and social services. Institutions (Dr. Michael Allen, Assistant Provost Zayed University), centres (Dr. Hiba Shata, Child's Learning Enrichment Medical Center; Salma Al Ali, Centre for Abused Children, KSA) and nurseries (Rula Abulghod, Dreamland Nursery; Barbara Knapp, International Montessori Nursery) discussed their approach to partnership in their efforts to maximize children's opportunities to success, from safety and quality education to support mechanisms, particularly for the disadvantaged children. 'Getting it right for every child' emerged as the corollary of the discussions, mainly in terms of the provision for children with learning difficulties and for abused children, who can be strongly benefitted from professionals from different fields working in partnership.

    The conference approached children's development in a comprehensive manner and extended an invitation to governments as well as organizations and professionals to get out of their 'comfort zone' and explore new routes to build effective linkages and partnerships that create supportive environments for children's growth. It also invited us to think about the ways to move forward and how to bring this expertise and these laudable efforts together to maximize children's benefit: how to teach children to think critically and make safe choices; how to support parents to make deliberate decisions; and how to guide the community to keep each other safe. Children's emotional maturity, professional partnership and social responsibility are topics in Arabian Child's agenda for their next conference in November 2015.

    Delegates were offered two types of registrations:
    Attendance only: Conference attendees were offered a certificate of attendance from Arabian Child and their Partner the Scotland Police College (NON Credit). Additionally, those who wished to receive a credit-bearing certificate in "Understanding working in partnerships" are currently completing their final assessment and essays that will be marked and assessed by Arabian Child team, upon successfully completing the requirements, a certificate will be issue by CACHE (UK).

    About Arabian Child
    Arabian Child is a not for profit organization specializing in delivery of childhood development programs from birth to 18 years. They provide certified teacher training in partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs, parent training, law enforcement training, and customized training for child advocates. Arabian Child also offers teacher assessment and credentialing in partnership with the CDA Council, Washington, D.C (USA). Arabian Child is a CACHE approved training centre (UK).

    Press Contacts:
    Samia Kazi, skazi ( @ ) arabianchild dot org, +971552217636, +97144356933

    Contact Arabian Child
    Tel: +971 4 4356933
    Email: info ( @ ) arabianchild dot org
    www.ArabianChild.org

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