Sharjah, November 07, 2022
The Sharjah Child Friendly Office (SCFO), a subsidiary of the Supreme Council for Family
Affairs (SCFA), launched a captivating sci-fi book titled My Childhood in Fifty Years’ Time during
the opening ceremony of the 41 st Sharjah International Book Fair, in partnership with the
Ministry of Community Development (MOCD).
The launch at the SCFA pavilion was held in the presence of HE Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid,
Minister of Community Development; HE Dr. Khawla Abdulrahman Al Mulla, Chairperson of
SCFA; Dr. Hessa Khalfan Al Ghazal, Executive Director of SCFO; Iman Abdullah Hareb,
Director of Social Protection Department, which is part of the MOCD, and a number of
government officials and experts, and the public.
The story, My Childhood in Fifty Years’ Time has been created through the eyes and thoughts
of children and published as a result of significant literary and education-related efforts in the
Arab world, where children predict what the UAE would look like in the future as a leading
technologically-advanced society.
The inspired collaboration between SCFO and MOCD brought together 80 children of various
ages and nationalities in workshops and brainstorming sessions to explore their ideas and
ambitions. The new book came to life through the collaboration between 12 talented children
aged 9-16, who wrote and illustrated the sci-fi story after intensive creative writing workshops.
The new book, available in both Arabic and English, falls under the science fiction genre and
tells the story of Alia, a disabled Emirati girl fascinated with technology and inventions. Through
a series of events, she gets transported alongside her brother through a time machine to a
foreign land. The plot thickens and accelerates when the two young children go through an
incredible journey of adventure that teaches them how to learn and innovate. The story
reinforces the idea that people with disabilities can unleash their creativity and realise their
potential to become inventors or researchers that serve humanity in various fields.
Commenting on the launch, Dr. Hessa Khalfan Al Ghazal, Executive Director of SCFO, said:
“The new story is the outcome of a unique partnership between our office and the Ministry of
Community Development, which share common ambitions to invest in the energy and creativity
of children and put their ideas and visions on paper so that it becomes a source of inspiration for
them and their peers.”
She added: “Through the new title, we aim to strengthen communication between children,
which helps understand the storylines and messages, and encourage youngsters to tap into
their creativity and generate ideas that can become inspiring stories.”
Iman Abdullah Hareb, Director of the Social Protection Department at the MOCD, said they are
keen on forging partnerships with relevant entities, including SCFO, to develop new visions
aimed at nurturing talented children and honing their skills, which in turn enhances the quality of
life for all children residing in the country.
She added that the collaboration to develop this book stems from a vision to partner with the
younger generations and help them explore unique experiences that broaden their knowledge
and stimulate their creativity.
At the Sharjah International Book Fair this year, SCFO will organise a session that brings
together the book’s authors, who will also share their experiences and learnings that resulted in
authoring the innovative new book and is not to be missed.