Latest news with #digitalawareness
Times of Oman
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Times of Oman
Children Cultural Centre promotes digital projects and learning
Muscat: The Children Cultural Centre, affiliated to the Directorate General of Knowledge and Cultural Development at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, continues its efforts to enhance digital projects aimed at children. This initiative aligns with a vision to develop digital awareness and instill concepts of creativity and interactive learning among young people. The Centre's approach reflects its commitment to aligning cultural and educational programs with modern demands, opening new horizons for children to acquire future skills and empowering them to engage positively with technology through innovative digital content that combines entertainment and knowledge. In 2024, the number of beneficiaries of the Centre's events and activities reached 35,603, while from January to July of this year, the figure rose to 39,383 beneficiaries. Salwa Saif Al Rashdi, Director of the Children Cultural Centre, stated that the goal of these projects goes beyond visual presentation or technical entertainment. Instead, it aims to build a sustainable cognitive relationship between children and their cultural identity by revitalising Omani heritage as a living, interactive experience. She explained that, in line with the Centre's vision to reinforce Omani cultural identity and enhance young people's awareness of their civilizational heritage, it continues to launch a series of interactive digital projects that blend authenticity with innovation. These projects, she said, utilise virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and electronic gaming applications—effective tools for connecting new generations to their cultural roots in a contemporary and engaging manner. She noted that these projects align closely with the objectives of Oman 2040 and the national cultural strategy, particularly in fostering a creative society, national identity, digital transformation, and innovation-based education. The Centre aspires to serve as a cultural knowledge platform, enabling children to become active contributors in shaping their country's future. She added that these projects are utilised in events and activities both within and outside Oman related to Omani cultural identity. Combining entertainment and education, they introduce young people to their historical and cultural roots. Among these projects—spanning culture, sports, and technology—are two initiatives centered on the traditional Omani games Al-Anbar and Al-Sayyad. These projects, she affirmed, play a vital role in preserving Omani cultural heritage and introducing new generations to these games in an engaging and innovative way, while also fostering creative thinking and problem-solving skills in children. Both projects operate using Unreal Engine technology. Another project, 'The Date Palm and Related Practices: An Interactive Story on Date Harvesting,' falls under culture, science, and technology. Utilizing VR, it educates children about the date palm's significance in Omani society—a heritage element inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity—while promoting awareness of agricultural traditions, she added. Additionally, the 'Interactive Camel Race Experience', powered by VR, highlights the social customs tied to Omani sporting heritage. It offers users an interactive simulation of camel racing in a safe environment. Meanwhile, the 'Smart Child Cultural Centre' project, employing AI, data analysis, and remote-control technologies, is an eco-friendly model embodying innovation and successful diversity. It supports national digital transformation goals by investing in childhood as a cornerstone for building a knowledge and technology-driven future. The Centre has previously executed projects such as 'Displaying an Ancient Omani Manuscript' by Omani physician Rashid bin Umaira and 'Folk Arts'. It also plans to launch additional digital projects later this year.
Zawya
23-06-2025
- General
- Zawya
DFWAC launches 'Our Digital Safety' campaign in celebration of stop Cyberbullying Day, engaging 100 young participants
UAE, Dubai, The Dubai Foundation for Women and Children (DFWAC) has launched a digital awareness campaign in celebration of Stop Cyberbullying Day titled "Our Digital Safety", aiming to enhance public awareness about the risks of cyberbullying and engage the community in promoting a culture of prevention capable of addressing it. The campaign also sought to encourage students to embrace safe digital practices and positive behaviours, including tolerance and respect online. As part of the campaign, a week-long online competition was held for public and private school students from grades three to seven across Dubai, with the participation of 100 students. Delivered via the Fillout platform in both Arabic and English, the contest featured 15 multiple-choice questions focused on identifying cyberbullying and understanding how to prevent it. Schools received the competition link To reinforce learning, the Foundation distributed tailored digital awareness content to participating students and their parents via email after the competition concluded. The material was designed to sustain the campaign's impact and promote continued dialogue at home about safe internet practices. Complementing these efforts, the Foundation also published a series of educational posts across its official social media channels. These posts offered guidance to adults on how to recognizeze and respond to signs of cyberbullying in order to minimize its spread and support victims within the community. Her Excellency Shaikha Saeed Al Mansouri, Acting Director General of the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, stated that early awareness is the most effective line of defence against all forms of violence, including cyberbullying, an issue that continues to grow alongside the rising use of technology among children and adolescents. 'In line with the directives of our wise leadership, we are committed to playing our awareness and preventive role by helping to build a safe and supportive digital environment for everyone,' she said. Al Mansouri went on to say that the Foundation is inspired by the humanitarian vision of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), the "Mother of the UAE. 'Her Highness is a role model in supporting the rights of women and children, and her initiatives have led to a qualitative leap in protection, care, and empowerment across the country,' Al Mansouri added. She concluded by saying, 'Today, we are proud to observe Stop Cyberbullying Day as we continue our efforts to spread awareness about the dangers of cyberbullying. We are committed to creating an integrated environment that prioritises prevention and promotes community partnerships to build a healthier digital future.' The campaign concluded with the announcement of ten student winners, who were each awarded an AED 500 gift card provided by Mirdif City Centre, totalling AED 5,000 in prizes. The winners' names were shared via the Foundation's official platforms.
