'National Treasures' campaign recreates UAE's past life for students of MZC

Students from universities around the UAE are invited to capture video, audio clips or still images related to the various aspects of the UAE traditions and history and upload them on watani.tv portal to be shared with interested people around the world.

The uploaded material will also serve as a research material for students and professors who are interested in the history of the UAE. For years to come the portal is expected to host the images and sounds of our fathers and grandfather sharing their experience in the UAE and stories of a great nation with generations to come.

The National Treasures Campaign is brought to the student of MZC campuses heritage pavilions in order to re-create the UAE's past life and encourage students to take part in the drive to preserve its beauty, by taking snap shots with their digital cameras and mobile phones whereby best uploaded material will be qualified for awards.

Pavilions featuring traditional handicrafts, Emirati food displays, folklore dances and traditional sports gave the chance for students, not only to enjoy their heritage, but instantly take part in the campaign using their digital cameras and camera-equipped mobile phones.

Ahmed Al Falahi, Director of the Students' Council, said, 'I am quite impressed with the concept of the campaign and both students and teachers, especially foreigners, are very excited to participate in it. One teacher told me that he has some photographs and articles that depict the UAE's rich heritage and he would like to participate in the competition so that he could share them with others.'

Al Falahi added, 'I believe it is part of his responsibilities to promote the campaign and encourage everyone to take part in it. I am confident that the entries from my colleagues will be significant, as the college has been organizing many heritage activities lately. I would like to thank Watani Programme and my college for this extraordinary initiative.'

The students were excited by the idea of bringing traditional activities to life and the college faculties also support the campaign by adopting traditional themes for students' projects in order to encourage them to know their culture and improve their communication skills peculiar to their traditions.

Ahmed Al Mansoori, General Coordinator of Watani Programme, said, 'Preserving our traditions is one way of urging the young generation to protect their cultural identity and take a closer look at our past, which we are proud of. Each person in the society is responsible for preserving our culture, especially university students, because they are the most valuable treasures for the coming generation and the only link between the past and the future.'

This is the fourth stop of the road show and the next one will be on 21 May at Zayed University, Dubai, and on 22 May at the Higher Colleges of Technology Womens' College in Ras Al Khaimah, which will include heritage activities. The last day for students of participating universities to upload images and clippings on watani.tv is 30 June, whereby winners will be selected and awarded valuable prizes.

The 'National Treasures' campaign was launched as part of the celebrations of the UAE's 36 National Day and continued through the Dubai Shopping Festival 2008.