Latest news with #AynforChildren
Observer
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
Shaping a safe digital identity for the next generation
Child safety policies are rooted in human rights frameworks, emphasising the importance of protecting children and ensuring their access to educational and cultural opportunities that nurture growth. With the rapid expansion of digital technologies and social media, safeguarding children has evolved into a pressing global priority. The widespread availability of devices and access to open digital platforms have granted children and adolescents unparalleled opportunities for learning and connection. Yet, this digital access also exposes them to new risks — disinformation, exploitation and online violence among them. Recognising both the benefits and dangers of this environment, modern societies understand that abandoning technology is not an option. Instead, they must create national digital content frameworks that ensure safe, ethical, and culturally anchored spaces for youth. Protecting children today means more than regulating harmful activities — it means building safe, positive digital environments. These spaces must offer educational and recreational content that strengthens social values, critical thinking, self-expression and responsible citizenship. They must empower children with skills for independent learning, self-protection and ethical digital participation. Nations are racing to offer safe digital content for their young populations, a competition intensified by the rapid evolution of generative AI technologies. In this context, platforms like (Ayn for Children) represent a significant milestone. Launched recently during the 29th Muscat International Book Fair by the Ministry of Information, (Ayn for Children) is part of the larger (Ayn Media Platform). It offers children a safe cultural environment focused on education and entertainment through flexible, engaging programmes. This platform expresses the aspirations of Omani children, connecting them to knowledge and creativity while grounding them in their national identity and global horizons. Rather than relying on rigid instruction, (Ayn for Children) embraces the philosophy of 'useful enjoyment', where learning and fun are interwoven. The platform features both local and global content. Locally, it offers culturally themed programmes like (Children's Folk Songs), (Names from Oman), (Palm Harvests) and (Wissam's Journeys), as well as educational series like (Before Bedtime Stories) and future-oriented shows such as (Team 2040) and (I Belong to My Homeland). Programmes like (Studio Ulfa) promote scientific curiosity, while others, such as (Entrepreneurship for Children) and (Hammam in the World of Commerce), encourage economic awareness. Globally, (Ayn for Children) brings beloved classics like (Little Women), (Haydi) and (Football Heroes), alongside adventurous series like (Marco Polo) and (Flory's Dragons). The platform also encourages creative young users to contribute original content, offering them a protected space to develop their talents and build a responsible digital footprint. Importantly, (Ayn for Children) is designed to help users cultivate a safe digital identity, offering secure profiles, search tools and direct access to age-appropriate content. The platform's vibrant design, intuitive navigation and careful categorisation make it especially appealing to young audiences. However, despite its strong foundation, (Ayn for Children) would benefit from broader promotion across media channels and digital platforms to ensure it reaches not only Omani children but young audiences across the Arab world. Expanding its library of audiobooks and adapting Omani children's literature into animations and educational programmes would further enrich its offerings. The launch of a platform dedicated to children is a critical step towards enriching the digital space for youth. In an age where technology shapes identities from an early age, (Ayn for Children) lays a vital foundation for nurturing future citizens — rooted in values, open to the world and prepared for a bright future. AISHA AL DARMAKI The writer is a researcher specialising in semiotics and a member of the State Council The original version of this article was published in the print edition of Oman Arabic daily on April 27. Translated by Badr al Dhafari
Observer
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
Minister highlights Ayn for kids as knowledge hub
MUSCAT: Dr Abdullah bin Nasser al Harrasi, Minister of Information has affirmed that the Ministry of Information's launch of the Kids' Interface on Ayn platform is inspired by the vision of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and his dedication to nurturing Omani children and developing their potential. In a press statement, he said: 'This is a strategic step towards creating meaningful media content for children, who represent a vital part of Oman's future. This interface is not just a source of entertainment, but a comprehensive learning space that supports the psychological, educational and moral needs of Omani children, while staying aligned with global digital developments.' He added: 'Today's children are active contributors to knowledge and the future. That's why the Kids' Interface was designed to provide content that speaks their language, sparks curiosity and strengthens Omani identity and values. It features illustrated stories, simple educational programmes and engaging audiovisual materials that help develop thinking, language and communication skills in an age-appropriate and appealing way.' 'We believe that building a strong society starts in childhood. The interface offers a safe, enjoyable alternative that connects children to their heritage, their identity and life in Oman. Looking ahead, we plan to expand its features by adding interactive educational games that support creative and innovative learning,' pointed out Dr Abdullah. He concluded: 'We are committed to continuously developing the platform in collaboration with experts in childhood, education, digital media and pedagogy. Our goal is to make it a national initiative that brings together families, educators and communities — helping raise a generation that contributes to Oman's growth and advancement.' It may be noted that the Ministry of Information had on Thursday launched 'Ayn for Children', a dedicated media platform for young audiences. The launch took place during the opening of the 29th Muscat International Book Fair under the auspices of HH Sayyid Dr Fahd bin Al Julanda al Said, Vice-Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University, in the presence of Dr Abdullah bin Nasser al Harrasi, Minister of Information. The platform aims to enrich child-focused media content by providing youth with knowledge resources that shape their awareness, develop their personalities and strengthen their national identity. It offers content that reflects Omani culture and values while nurturing future-ready generations capable of engaging effectively with modern technology. Ayn for Children features diverse educational, entertainment and cultural content, including cartoons, programmes, audio content, audiobooks and other age-appropriate materials for children aged 4 to 18. Dr Amal Mohammed al Nawfali, Director General of Digital Media at the Ministry of Information, stated that the platform delivers a carefully designed digital edutainment experience with an intuitive, child-friendly interface featuring vibrant colours inspired by the Ayn platform. It ensures accessibility for all children, including those with visual or hearing impairments and offers exclusive content that reinforces national identity and ethical values. — ONA
Observer
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
Information Ministry launches Oman's first children's media platform
The Ministry of Information on Thursday launched 'Ayn for Children", a dedicated media platform for young audiences. The launch took place during the opening of the 29th Muscat International Book Fair under the auspices of HH Sayyid Dr Fahd Al Julanda al Said, Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University, in the presence of Dr Abdullah bin Nasser al Harrasi, Minister of Information. The platform aims to enrich child-focused media content by providing youth with knowledge resources that shape their awareness, develop their personalities, and strengthen their national identity. It offers content that reflects Omani culture and values while nurturing future-ready generations capable of engaging effectively with modern technology. Ayn for Children features diverse educational, entertainment, and cultural content, including cartoons, programmes, audio content, audiobooks, and other age-appropriate materials for children aged 4 to 18. Dr Amal Mohammed al Nawfali, Director General of Digital Media at the Ministry of Information, stated that the platform delivers a carefully designed digital edutainment experience with an intuitive, child-friendly interface featuring vibrant colors inspired by the Ayn platform. It ensures accessibility for all children, including those with visual or hearing impairments, and offers exclusive content that reinforces national identity and ethical values. Dr Al Nawfali pointed out that key technical features include personalised child accounts with customisable cartoon avatars, offline content downloads, an advanced search engine for audio-visual materials, and a resume-play function for interrupted sessions. The platform also hosts a dedicated space for young content creators, showcasing their work and fostering future media talent. She added that the platform boasts a vast library of over 65,000 audio-visual items, including over 8,000 child-specific materials, spanning radio/TV programmes, original productions, animations, and audiobooks. Accessible globally with audiences in 170+ countries, it supports smart TVs, mobile devices, tablets, and web browsers. Notably, the Ministry of Information's Ayn platform, is Oman's largest audio-visual content hub, surpassing 16 million views since its soft launch. - ONA
Times of Oman
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Times of Oman
Information Ministry launches Oman's first children's media platform
Muscat: The Ministry of Information today launched 'Ayn for Children", a dedicated media platform for young audiences. The launch took place during the opening of the 29th Muscat International Book Fair under the auspices of HH Sayyid Dr. Fahd Al Julanda Al Said, Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University, in the presence of Dr. Abdullah Nasser Al Harrasi, Minister of Information. The platform aims to enrich child-focused media content by providing youth with knowledge resources that shape their awareness, develop their personalities, and strengthen their national identity. It offers content that reflects Omani culture and values while nurturing future-ready generations capable of engaging effectively with modern technology. Ayn for Children features diverse educational, entertainment, and cultural content, including cartoons, programs, audio content, audiobooks, and other age-appropriate materials for children aged 4 to 18. Dr. Amal Mohammed Al Nawfali, Director General of Digital Media at the Ministry of Information, stated that the platform delivers a carefully designed digital edutainment experience with an intuitive, child-friendly interface featuring vibrant colors inspired by the Ayn platform. It ensures accessibility for all children, including those with visual or hearing impairments, and offers exclusive content that reinforces national identity and ethical values. Al Nawfali pointed out that key technical features include personalized child accounts with customizable cartoon avatars, offline content downloads, an advanced search engine for audio-visual materials, and a resume-play function for interrupted sessions. The platform also hosts a dedicated space for young content creators, showcasing their work and fostering future media talent. She added that the platform boasts a vast library of over 65,000 audio-visual items, including over 8,000 child-specific materials, spanning radio/TV programs, original productions, animations, and audiobooks. Accessible globally with audiences in 170+ countries, it supports smart TVs, mobile devices, tablets, and web browsers.
