Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children, the “Salam Ya Seghar” campaign - an initiative of the Big Heart Foundation - will launch the “Salam Ya Seghar Kite Festival” at Al Majaz Park in Sharjah from 12th - 14th February.
The three-day enlightening event will be attended by an elite group of senior officials, famous artists, renowned media figures and VIP’s.
Put together for the first time ever, the fun yet informative festival aims to raise community awareness about both the “Salam Ya Seghar” campaign and the Big Heart Foundation while educating local children about the plight of their counterparts in countries that suffer from the negative impact and aftermath of war and unrest. It also strives to encourage the society and media to confront and expose the ordeal of those children, and to help them through any means possible in order to alleviate their hardship and suffering and return a semblance of happiness to their faces and comfort to their lives.
Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of Salam Ya Seghar, spoke at the occasion: “For children especially there is an undeniable magic and joy found in flying - and in flying endlessly without boundaries. This feeling of freedom they experience when flying a kite symbolizes the freedom, optimism and limitless horizons of the bright futures that lie ahead of them. Through the Kite Festival we seek to bring understanding to the children of Sharjah and the UAE, so they can share and identify with the suffering of their peers in other parts of the world who are passing through difficult conditions as a result of wars and turmoil in their countries. This makes the kite the festival’s only means of entertainment - the silver lining wrapped around the dark cloud of adversity - to cultivate their innocence and keep them optimistic that the future will be as beautiful and promising as their kites flying through the clear skies.”
The festival will take place on Thursday and Saturday, 12th & 14th February, from 10am-10pm, and on Friday, 13th February, from 4-10pm.
It will feature numerous engaging activities and insightful workshops, as well as a drive to raise funds for the “Salam Ya Seghar” campaign. Participants of the festival will be given the opportunity to send thoughtful messages containing expressive words to children living under difficult circumstances in a number of fraternal and friendly States.
The “Salam Ya Seghar” campaign was launched in 2007 upon the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children.
The campaign was originally launched to provide support for Palestinian children before it expanded the scope of its relief and humanitarian operations to include children living in countries and areas affected by wars and unrest throughout the world.