Abu Dhabi Campaign for Social Cohesion 2009 starts with conferences to be held in Al Ain

Guidance Conferences started yesterday at the UAE University in Al Ain and will lead up to several events in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region including lectures and workshops, marital consultancy, festivals, family carnivals and a mass wedding for couples including those with disabilities.

The events will end on March 18 with a closing ceremony that will feature raffle prizes and nasheed artists.

Fatima Al Rashdi, Director-General of the Campaign and Chairman of the Al Tawasel Center for Training and Consultancy, spoke of the faith of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President Emeritus of the campaign in taking care of social cohesion and providing all kinds of support for the success of the campaign.

Fatima Al Rashdi quotes, "Society has seen an increase in divorce between spouses and based on the desire of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa for family stability and responsibility towards the nation, we have undertaken this campaign aimed at young people and married couples, especially university students and secondary school students to raise awareness through the provision of family counseling."

The Al Tawasel Center has many consultants in psychiatry and family relations with the goal of continuing the campaign for the next five years through the strengthening of family ties by rehabilitation and training individuals. Consultants will also educate couples in addressing the challenges in family life by sending them to the relevant experts to resolve their problems and thus, hopefully, provide solutions to stop the 122 cases of divorce occurring every year in the Emirate.

A press conference announcing the main organizers and sponsors of the event was held March 4 at the Emirates Palace. Participating in the conference were the general managers of the Campaign and several governmental sponsors including the Abu Dhabi Police, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, Abu Dhabi Municipality, Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, Al Jawda Association and many other companies and institutions who have contributed their sponsorship to the Campaign.

Dr. Ahmed Al Homsi, a renowned Family Education Consultant speaking at the press conference, hailed the Campaign for aiming to stabilize the Arab family by educating individuals about the importance of family and encouraging the next generation to concentrate and be more aware of the families they hope to build instead of technology and modern conveniences.

Also speaking at the press conference was Pyramedia Head of Arabic Press, Mohammed Monier on behalf of Pyramedia CEO Nashwa Al Ruwaini. Pyramedia are one of the main sponsors of the campaign and lends its dedicated support to restore family ties and social interdependence while recognizing the importance of society and the efforts of governmental institutions in the UAE to create a model society based on happy and successful families.

The campaign aims to build a community that cherishes the value of maintaining family stability, reduce the incidence of divorce and family disintegration, educate newly married couples to meet the challenges affecting marital stability and give couples the skills to solve marital conflicts.

One of the main aims of the campaign is to guide couples through the dissemination of programs to increase awareness of, cultural, social and family for all groups of society.