Sharjah Heritage Brings the “Year of the Family” to Life through the ‘Our Productive Families’ Initiative
Reinforcing its leading role in safeguarding cultural heritage and strengthening the presence of the family within the development landscape, the Sharjah Institute for Heritage organized a community-driven initiative titled “Our Productive Families.” Held over two days (Wednesday and Thursday) at its headquarters in University City, the initiative witnessed wide community participation. It aimed to support and empower productive families, enhance their role in preserving traditional crafts and heritage products, and contribute to reinforcing cultural identity and passing it on to future generations, in addition to opening marketing channels for these products.
Al Musallam: The Family is the Foundation of Heritage Preservation
His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, affirmed that launching the initiative reflects Sharjah’s vision of empowering the family as the primary incubator of cultural values and traditional knowledge. He noted that productive families represent a key pillar of the cultural economy through their inherited skills and authentic creativity. He added that the Institute is committed to providing a supportive environment for these talents through training, qualification, and opportunities to participate in local and international events, thereby ensuring the sustainability of traditional crafts. He further explained that the initiative goes beyond showcasing products, seeking to instill a culture of productivity and collaborative family work, and to strengthen younger generations’ connection to their heritage, emphasizing that preserving heritage is a shared responsibility that begins within the family and extends to all institutions.
Al Kindi: An Integrated Platform to Support Local Creativity
For his part, His Excellency Abu Bakr Al Kindi, Director of the Institute, stated that the “Our Productive Families” initiative served as an integrated platform enabling families to present and promote their products to the public, as well as exchange expertise among participants, contributing to improving product quality and competitiveness. He highlighted the Institute’s commitment to supporting such initiatives through training and advisory programs that empower families to efficiently manage their projects and access broader markets locally and internationally, thereby enhancing the sustainability of this vital sector.
Ghabash: A Diverse Program and Strong Community Engagement
Meanwhile, Aisha Ghabish, Director of Events and Activities Department at the Institute, pointed out that the initiative featured a diverse program of booths and interactive activities reflecting traditional crafts and heritage products. She emphasized that the event witnessed remarkable community engagement and contributed to supporting local products.
This initiative comes as part of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the value of heritage and to reinforce the family’s role as a key partner in its preservation and sustainability.