
Sandooq Al Watan's summer programmes attract 50,000 school, university students
Sheikh Nahyan said that the programmes — held in 54 venues across government and private schools, as well as cultural and youth centres — aim to reach 50,000 participants from school and university students.
He emphasised that these programmes embody the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, in building a strong and sustainable national identity that resonates with the younger generations, serving as both a shield and a motivation for progress.
He confirmed that the ultimate goal is to build future generations who believe in their national identity, are proud of their Arabic language — "the language of the Quran,' and who embrace values of belonging and loyalty through a noble message delivered in innovative ways.
He also noted that the programmes will offer rich content through hundreds of entertainment, sports, artistic, and knowledge-based activities. For the first time this year, more than 30 theatrical performances will be presented by a select group of UAE creatives and artists on the summer programmes stages. In addition, hundreds of events related to Arabic calligraphy, heritage, storytelling, creative games, and daily competitions with instant prizes will be organised-alongside a diverse range of sports games.
Yasser Al Gargawi, Director General of Sandooq Al Watan, said the programmes target age group students aged 8-16, divided into three main categories:
Group 1: Ages 8-10 (focus on physical activities and short stories)Group 2: Ages 11-13 (focus on interactive discussions and simple analysis)Group 3: Ages 14-16 (focus on small projects and volunteer initiatives)
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