Sharjah gains insight into Swedish child, youth welfare practices

STOCKHOLM, 9th April, 2018 (WAM) -- A high-level Sharjah delegation led by the Executive Office of H.H. Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, has met a number of high-ranking officials in Sweden to exchange expertise with Swedish children’s welfare institutions, which work towards the development of a safe and creatively stimulating environment for children and young adults. The delegation comprised a number of organisations including Rubu’ Qarn for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators, Child Safety Campaign - an affiliate of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, SCFA, and the Sharjah Social Services Department, SSSD. The delegation comprising Afaf Al Marri, Chairperson of the SSSD; Erum Mazher Alvie, Senior Advisor at HHEO and Board of Trustee Member at Rubu’ Qarn for Creating Leaders and Innovators; Hanadi Saleh Al Yafei, Department Director at the SCFA and Head of the Organising Committee of the Child Safety Campaign; Fatima Al Marzouqi, Director of the Social Care Centre for Children at SSSD, and Jassem Al Blooshi, Board of Trustee Member, Rubu’ Qarn for Creating Leaders and Innovators, met several Swedish state entities, private corporations and non-profit organisations dedicated to issues affecting families and children. In the course of the visit, Swedish officials shared the nation’s history, its incentive programmes for young entrepreneurs, its child protection policies, youth empowerment and its vision for future generations. Among the child welfare insights provided during the three-day tour, the representatives were introduced to the university-led research project "The Politics of Parenting Support," which analyses the historical development of parenting in Sweden. The delegation’s visit to Sweden’s child protection service centre, Barnahus, was a follow-up to the visit of H.H. Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the SCFA in 2015. They met the Stockholm Manager, Anna Friberg, and learned more about the centre’s pioneering environment for children who have been victims of crime and abuse, where they can describe their experiences in a non-threatening atmosphere for the benefit of investigations by social services, the police, the public prosecutor’s office, child psychiatrists and psychologists. Al Marri stressed the importance of this visit and how it offered the delegation an opportunity to take a closer look at Sweden’s leading practices in areas of social welfare, especially for children. She underlined that the visit was quite effective in the way it allowed both parties to find common grounds for the exchange of experiences and expertise. Hanadi Saleh Al Yafei said, "Sweden has a well-deserved reputation in leading a welfare state system that is based on equality, justice, community harmony, family relations, and most importantly a foundation to nurture a sense of belonging for the future. We were introduced to all the issues related to child protection in Sweden, and gained an understanding of a diversity of knowledge, expertise and techniques they are required to apply to children who come from many different cultures and backgrounds." During a visit to the Social Insurance Agency in Sweden, a government agency that is responsible for parental benefits, housing allowance, child allowance and maintenance support, Niklas Lofgren, Family Economics Spokesperson at the Agency, presented the Swedish perspective, saying, "I would definitely say that we have come a long way with developing the Swedish welfare system with laws that ensure that children are well protected and their rights are defended. What is important to remember here is that it is a system, which has taken more than 100 years to evolve. It has not happened overnight; taken shape slowly but surely over a long period of time and while there is still some work to do, we have progressed well in ensuring families and children are well taken care of." Jassem Al Blooshi highlighting how the visit offered Rubu’ Qarn for Creating Leaders and Innovators an opportunity to become acquainted closely with the Swedish experience in the care and support it provides for young people to be involved in various sectors of entrepreneurship, adding that these goals are in line with the vision of Rubu’ Qarn to build a distinctive and creative generation of inspiring and influential leaders who contribute to the continuous progress and sustainable development of the UAE. Other members in the Sharjah delegation included representatives of several entities including Sheikha Hind bint Majed Al Qassimi, Acting Chairperson, Sharjah Business Women Council an affiliate of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment, NAMA, and Nada Al Lawati, Executive Board Member, NAMA.