Sharjah Children Parliament Elects New Leaders For 2025-2026 Session Promoting Democratic Values

Sharjah Children Parliament recently held elections for key leadership roles for its 18th session, aimed at children aged 8-11. The theme for the new term, spanning 2025-2026, is "Community Service as Leadership." Members elected their Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, and General Rapporteur through electronic voting. This process allowed candidates to present their achievements and aspirations within the parliament.

The election results saw Humaid Saeed Al Zaabi becoming Chairman, Abida Khalil Sahakouh as Vice Chairman, Reem Abdullah Al Naqbi taking the Secretary role, and Khalid Raed Al Naqbi appointed as General Rapporteur. These leaders expressed gratitude for the trust placed in them by their peers and committed to representing their voices effectively.

Before the elections, an intensive training programme was conducted for parliament members. This included a "Leadership Camp" with interactive workshops designed to familiarise new members with the Council's objectives and structure. The programme also focused on enhancing teamwork and leadership skills among participants.

A workshop titled "Future Leaders," led by trainer Abdullah Al Shehhi, was part of this initiative. It aimed at developing personal skills such as effective communication, responsibility-taking, positive decision-making, and collaborative work within teams.

Sharjah Children Parliament is a project under the Rubu' Qarn Foundation for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators. Established in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, it aims to educate children about parliamentary life in the UAE. The parliament seeks to prepare young national cadres for decision-making roles and community service.

The parliament encourages democratic practices through constructive dialogue and promotes a culture of citizenship and belonging. It aligns with Sharjah's vision of nurturing future leaders by involving children in legislative processes while instilling values like respect for diverse opinions and Islamic principles.

This initiative emphasises altruism and serving public interests as core values. By engaging children in these activities, Sharjah aims to develop responsible citizens who contribute positively to society while respecting others' freedoms.

With inputs from WAM