Sharjah: A global standard for inclusion and a model of social integration and sustainable development
An inclusive educational environment
Sharjah's commitment to comprehensive inclusion is seen across several key sectors essential to the health and well-being of individuals in the community. In the field of education, the emirate has played a significant role in inclusive education and pedagogical rehabilitation. Since its establishment, the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) has actively worked to integrate individuals with disabilities into schools and the broader community, while advocating for an accessible built environment that allows for easy and safe mobility.
These significant efforts have enabled the integration of many students with disabilities into schools within an educational environment rooted in equality and specialised educational support. Sharjah has also provided early intervention services, family care, and individualised rehabilitation for children. In parallel, economic initiatives like Takween were launched with the goal of producing goods handcrafted by persons with disabilities, serving as a model for the shift from care to empowerment, and showcasing their ability to create independent artistic and craftwork that supports economic inclusion.
Furthermore, the University of Sharjah established the Disability Resource Center to provide academic and technical support to students with disabilities, ensuring their full participation on campus from admission through graduation and achieving an inclusive and comprehensive educational experience.
On the social and psychological front, several institutions in Sharjah organise seasonal programs that include a range of activities for persons with disabilities, such as art workshops, sports events, and psychological support. These initiatives are part of a broader community strategy aimed at improving quality of life and fostering a sense of inclusion and acceptance.
Alignment with national policies
At the legislative and legal level, Sharjah's efforts are fully aligned with federal laws and policies notably Federal Law No. 29 of 2006 concerning the rights of persons with disabilities. The emirate has continuously worked to connect health, education, economic, and social sectors to ensure a sustainable and integrated approach to inclusion.
The significance of these efforts is underlined by data from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which reveals that excluding persons with disabilities from the labor market can result in losses ranging from 1% to 7% in the GDP of some countries. This highlights the profound economic and innovative impact of inclusive and integrative policies.
Inclusion International's World Congress 2025, 'We are Inclusion', taking place in Sharjah this year, reinforces the significance of inclusive policies in achieving sustainable development. Aligning with the UN 2030 Goal Agenda, particularly Goal 10, which aims to 'reduce inequality' and emphasises that 'social and economic inclusion of all, regardless of age, gender, or disability,' is essential to building sustainable societies.
Sharjah: A Global Call for Inclusion and Diversity
Through this World Congress, Sharjah is calling out to the global community that building communities cannot be complete without everyone's contribution. Inclusion is not only a humanitarian principle but also a developmental, economic, and cultural policy, and a fundamental human right that must not be compromised.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Scholarship students share why they chose to study abroad, inspire aspirants
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research organized the New Scholarship Students Forum 2025 on Thursday at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library (MBRL), Dubai. The event brought together students and parents in an interactive setting focused on academic guidance, national values, and the comprehensive support offered throughout the scholarship journey. The orientation featured interactive workshops covering key topics such as scholarship activation, communication with the Ministry and cultural attachés, student rights and responsibilities, cultural adjustment, personal safety, and academic and career planning. Dedicated sessions were held for parents to address their questions, reflecting the Ministry's commitment to involving families as key partners in supporting students' academic and emotional well-being abroad. The gathering featured discussions with former scholars who shared their experiences and highlighted the Ministry's role in supporting students abroad. Parents and students began exchanging contact details, building a network of mutual support to ease the transition for their children and themselves. Dr Mohammed Al Mualla, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said, 'Each year, we receive nearly 3,000 scholarship applications, but only 10 per cent are selected based on their academic excellence and admission to top global universities.' The total number of Emirati scholarship students abroad, including both new and continuing students, has reached 592, enrolled in over 115 higher education institutions across at least 22 countries worldwide — all ranked among the top global universities. Meanwhile, 187 students graduated from the scholarship programme during the 2024–2025 academic year. He stressed the importance of maintaining balance between academic, professional, and personal growth during the scholarship period. Dr Al Mualla emphasized that the scholarship programme reflects the UAE's commitment to investing in its youth by providing access to world-class education, enabling students to acquire diverse skills and international exposure, fostering a strong sense of national responsibility, and preparing them to meet the evolving needs of the job market. He added, 'You must take pride in your Emirati identity, uphold your national values and religious ethics, and carry them with you in your interactions abroad.' The event also featured emotional and interactive moments, as students posed for commemorative photos with their families and wrote postcards with personal messages to loved ones — mementos to keep during their time abroad. Self-reliance and independence Speaking to Khaleej Times, Khadijah Ali, 20, who began her scholarship in 2023 and is currently entering her third year studying psychology at McMaster University in Canada, reflected on her initial feelings, 'When I first got accepted into the scholarship programme, I felt a mix of fear, anxiety, and joy. I was afraid of failing, but my family's support encouraged me to begin. Today, I am truly happy with my decision.' 'Studying abroad has been a completely different experience. I've met so many people and learned to be independent at a very young age,' she added. She explained that after spending her first year in student housing, she decided to find and furnish her own apartment. 'I was proud of myself and my independence at such a young age,' she said. In her second year, Khadeeja launched a small business selling traditional Emirati Mukhawar (a traditional dress). She advised new scholars, 'Try every experience available beyond academics. Enjoy your time — it's what will truly enrich your years of study.' Becoming self-reliant Abdullah Nabil Alnaqbi, an 18-year-old high school graduate, has decided to pursue a degree in actuarial science at the University of Melbourne in Australia. 'This is an opportunity for me to rely on myself and experience life independently,' he said. He explained that his choice was influenced by his cousin, who is currently studying in Australia and has praised both the quality of education and the ease of living there. 'Choosing to study abroad was easy for me — I was fully convinced,' he added. His mother, who studied at the UAE University away from her family, expressed her confidence in the experience, 'It's a wonderful opportunity for him to become more self-reliant and grow personally.' She credited her confidence in the decision to the school's numerous preparatory meetings and her trust in the UAE's commitment to ensuring its citizens' safety and well-being abroad. In the weeks leading up to the event, cultural attachés in host countries held virtual sessions to familiarize students and parents with digital services and support mechanisms, offering guidance to ensure a well-rounded and successful scholarship journey.
The National
4 hours ago
- The National
'I always think of moving back': Lebanese expats who left their hearts in Beirut
Four years ago today, Grace Dergham did the one thing she said she would never do. With her life packed in a single suitcase, she boarded a one-way flight from Lebanon in a move she described as "anything but easy". The 28 year old bid farewell to her parents with tears in her eyes and a heavy heart on July 31, lingering a little longer in their embrace, before rushing to catch the plane she desperately wanted to miss. It was deja vu for the departure terminal at Beirut International Airport. Emotional goodbyes had become the norm for many Lebanese families in 2021, with thousands of young people travelling to seek a future abroad amid their country's political paralysis, economic collapse and the final straw – the Beirut port blast. Hundreds of tonnes of ammonium nitrate improperly stored at Beirut port exploded on August 4, 2020, killing more than 220 people, injuring thousands and obliterating parts of the capital. While there are no accurate statistics, Information International, a research firm in Beirut, noted a mass exodus after the port explosion. Only way forward Ms Dergham was on her way to play tennis with her friends in Hamra, about 4km from the port, when the devastating explosion happened. "I saw a huge, pink cloud in the sky. Just as I pulled out my phone to take a picture, I felt the ground underneath me shake. Next thing I know, there was shattered glass everywhere and panicked calls from my family started flooding in," she told The National. "It was only later that reality set in and I understood the gravity of what happened." The architect is the youngest of four siblings and was the only child still living with her parents at the time of the blast. All three of her elder siblings had families and lives abroad, a path she had never considered, until then. Lebanon had been the only home Ms Dergham knew and she was particularly fond of its scenic landscapes, hospitable people and rich cultural heritage. In June 2021, a job opportunity came knocking on Ms Dergham's door and by July she had left Beirut with no return flight. The decision to pack up and leave came with an immense feeling of guilt that "eats at her every day", she said. "I didn't want to leave my parents alone but I was starting to lose hope in the country. I thought I could support them better from abroad and so leaving felt like the only way forward, even if it meant letting go of everything that felt like home," she added solemnly. Four years on, Ms Dergham has established a life in Abu Dhabi that she's grateful for, but every trip back to Beirut leaves her wondering if she made the right choice. "You can never have enough of Lebanon," she said. The country has been described as having a charm that attracts tourists and citizens alike. "Every time I say goodbye to my parents again, every time I have to leave home, I start reconsidering my options," she told The National. Economic collapse Her former colleague, Alex Habr, faces the same problem. The two worked together at a non-profit organisation that was involved in rebuilding homes destroyed by the Beirut blast. Mr Habr, 28, received a bachelor's degree in interior architecture from Milan. He moved back to Beirut for work in July 2020, but less than one month later, the port blast happened. Mr Habr was among scores of Lebanese who took to the streets in the days and weeks after August 4 to help clear up the rubble. He was working first-hand with NGOs to help families rebuild their homes, and now owns construction and contracting companies in the US. "Being on the streets after the blast and helping people slowly rebuild was the most fulfilling experience of my life but it also showed me how unstable our country really was," said Mr Habr. He described families who had been well-off, only to find themselves unable to afford renovations after losing their hard-earned savings in Lebanon's banking crisis. In late 2019, Lebanon began feeling the impact of one of the worst financial crises in history. The economic collapse pushed more than half the population into poverty, with the national currency losing more than 90 per cent of its value. The banking system was hard-hit, with years of unsustainable monetary policies catching up with the once-globally praised sector. Cash deposits in Lebanese banks vanished and many people lost their life savings. The ripple effects of the economic crisis, still felt to this day, are another reason that pushed many to leave, despite their love for their homeland. 'Lebanon is my favourite country, it's always on my mind, I always think about moving back home," said Mr Habr. "But Lebanon is unstable, there are no guarantees, I can't sacrifice what I have to move back." While he has no immediate plans to relocate to Beirut, Mr Habr still flew back for the summer. Even during crisis, expats often find their way home for the holidays, where they revel in the pristine beaches, scenic hikes, delicious feasts and parties till sunrise. 'It keeps me up at night' Nagham Abou Zeid had always dreamt of pursuing her postgraduate studies abroad but had plans to move back to Lebanon and teach at her alma mater, the Lebanese American University. The 24 year old is currently a candidate for a doctorate at the University of Tennessee in Nashville, where she is studying child psychology and development. However, her plans to move back home have fallen through. "I changed my mind after the economic collapse," Ms Abou Zeid told The National. "I saw my parents work really hard all their lives, only to lose everything overnight." Ms Abou Zeid's father had been in the Lebanese Army for 37 years. His retirement money, which had been stored in the bank "after years of serving the country", was all gone. The Beirut blast, which the postgraduate student escaped by mere chance, was the final nail in the coffin. "On the day of the blast, I had a therapist appointment in Achrafieh at exactly 6pm," she told The National. "I don't remember why I cancelled it, but luckily I did because the therapist's office was fully destroyed in the blast." Ms Abou Zeid also took to the streets as part of clear-up and recalls chaotic scenes she will never forget. Five years since the explosion, there has been no justice, no accountability and no answers. Political pushback on an investigation into the blast, which has largely been blamed on state negligence and mismanagement, has led many Lebanese diaspora to stand by their decision to stay away, despite how difficult it can be. "I don't regret my decision, it has come with a lot of pain, but I think it was the right thing to do," Ms Abou Zeid said. "I hate that I can't see my parents get older, and I hate that I miss out on milestones and special occasions. "I don't regret not wanting to go back. There's no stability, no safety, no security, but it's 100 per cent a really difficult decision that keeps me up at night."
Emirates 24/7
7 hours ago
- Emirates 24/7
Abu Dhabi Judicial Department wins 3rd place at Dubai Dates Festival Awards
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD), through its Correction and Rehabilitation Centres, secured third place in the Dubai Dates Festival Awards 2025, under the category of government entities. This recognition came as appreciation for its distinguished participation that combined quality, creativity, and a meaningful social message, truly reflecting the integration of rehabilitation efforts with production and innovation. Counselor Yousef Saeed Al Abri, Undersecretary of ADJD, affirmed that this honour from one of the most prominent heritage events in the country reflects the department's firm commitment to developing rehabilitation programmes and empowering inmates professionally and socially. Al Abri also praised the relentless efforts of the teams at the Correction and Rehabilitation Centres, who are steadily advancing towards achieving integration between rehabilitation and production programmes. This year, the ADJD participated in the Dubai Dates Festival, organised by the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Centre, amidst a wide presence of government entities, the private sector, and local farmers. The department showcased a comprehensive pavilion highlighting the inmates' creativity in agriculture, handicrafts, and heritage products. The pavilion featured the finest types of dates grown within the correction centres, in addition to artisanal and artistic products that reflected the skills acquired by the inmates through professional rehabilitation programs implemented by the department.
