MoU to reinforce national identity understanding and practices

H.E. Ahmed Al Mansoori, Director General of Watani and H.E. Fatima Al Marri, CEO of Dubai Schools Agency at KHDA marked their strategic partnership through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on Thursday June 26, 2008 at the Shangri-La hotel in Dubai.

"Youngsters have been showing increasing interest in discovering the historical, cultural, religious and social backgrounds of the various customs and traditions portrayed during our activities across the seven Emirates,"

said H.E. Ahmed Al Mansoori.

He added, "the development of extra-curricular activities that take into consideration the UAE's history, culture, social and religious traditions, and the diverse set up of the UAE society today will be the focus of our partnership with the KHDA. We consider this MoU a stepping stone that combines the efforts of the relevant entities leading to a major endorsement of the national identity attributes amongst students of all nationalities in the country."

Commenting on the event, H.E Fatima Al Marri said:

"There is no doubt that Watani program has positively impacted our people across the country. Therefore, our cooperation will reinforce the national identity by integrating it in all of our curricula, publications and activities. We see our partnership today as a starting point for a serious and effective work that will certainly increase the awareness of our national identity."

According to the provisions of the MoU, Watani and KHDA will launch a number of sports, educational, and entertainment activities focused on developing a better understanding of the UAE's cultural and social customs and traditions held at KHDA summer camps. The programs which kicked off earlier this week will see Watani offering participants the opportunity to discover aspects of the UAE heritage through a variety of activities ranging from hospitality and greetings traditions to dhow navigation, astrology, compass reading and healing with herbs. The summer camps will offer entertainment activities such as folk arts, Henna painting and traditional sports games. The camps will also reinforce the recycling concept whereby participants will be introduced to the different ways of re-using various types of waste.

Upon signing of the MoU, the two parties will work together to organize conferences and support initiatives that aim at promoting good citizenship and preserving national identity as well as common social research and cooperation with third parties.