‘Tales of the Travelers’ brings together 30 children at the ‘Al-Rawi Summer Camp’.
The Sharjah Institute for Heritage, through its Arab Heritage Center, is organizing the fourth edition of the “Al-Rawi Summer Camp” under the theme “Tales of the Travelers”, at the Center’s headquarters, with the participation of 30 boys and girls aged between 8 and 12.
The camp runs until August 14, four days a week from Monday to Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It features 24 interactive workshops combining art, heritage, and storytelling, aimed at strengthening children’s awareness of national identity and inspiring them to explore and express themselves creatively through stories inspired by the journeys of travelers, foremost among them Ibn Battuta.
Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, President of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, affirmed that the fourth edition of the Al-Rawi Summer Camp is part of the educational and cultural initiatives the Institute is keen to organize annually. Its purpose is to instill heritage concepts in younger generations and enhance the presence of folk tales in their consciousness through interactive activities that merge fun with knowledge while developing their expression and creativity skills. He added: “The camp serves as a preparatory station for the 25th edition of the Sharjah International Narrator Forum, by providing an inspiring environment that enables children to engage with heritage elements in a contemporary way, contributing to the formation of a generation that is aware of the values of oral storytelling and conscious of the importance of preserving cultural heritage and passing it on through modern methods that appeal to youth and connect with their interests.”
A qualitative shift
Aisha Al-Hussan Al-Shamsi, Director of the Arab Heritage Center, said this year’s camp represents a qualitative shift in cultural engagement with children, paving the way for their deeper participation in the Sharjah International Narrator Forum. She noted that this educational and cultural program reflects the Institute’s vision of instilling concepts of identity and memory in the minds of the younger generation.
She added: “We are keen to provide dynamic educational content that strengthens the child’s relationship with his or her heritage in a fun and interactive way. We do not merely transmit stories; we also nurture a generation of young storytellers capable of reshaping them and expressing them in the language of today.”
The camp program includes specialized workshops in storytelling, handicrafts, visual arts, recycling, as well as textile and model-making. Highlights include: Tales of Ibn Battuta, Design Your Travel Booklet, Make Your Necklace, The Hourglass, The Sailing Ship Painting, and The Explorer’s Medal.
The camp concludes with honoring the participating children and awarding each of them the “Explorer’s Medal.”