The Orphan Care Center (Dreama), one of the centers of the Qatar Foundation for Social Work, a Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF) affiliate, concluded the activities of the ‘Art Lab’ initiative that was held in cooperation with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in a ceremony held at Bin Jelmood House in Msheireb, under the patronage of HE Minister of Social Development and Family Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad.
The ceremony was attended by HE Assistant Undersecretary for Family Affairs, MSDF, Sheikha Sheikha bint Jassim Al-Thani, HE Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah, HE UNESCO Representative for the Gulf States and Yemen and Director of the UNESCO Office in Doha Salah El Din Zaki Khaled, and a number of officials, specialists participating in the program and members of the Dreama Center.
The Arts Lab aimed to train the centers members in using the arts as a means of self-expression and to help them i
ndirectly understand the challenges they may face. Social and psychological specialists were trained to present these activities and guide the children in expressing themselves more freely and effectively. This initiative was part of Dreama Center’s ongoing efforts to enhance self-confidence and develop life skills for its members.
Participants at the Dreama Centre engaged in intensive workshops focused on expressive arts, gaining valuable skills in creative writing and acting. The closing ceremony included a discussion with UNESCO experts and trainers, where insights from the workshops were shared, and recommendations for addressing challenges were made. Children also presented their own artistic performances, highlighting their progress in these fields.
In her speech during the ceremony, Dreama Executive Director Sheikha Najla bint Ahmed Al-Thani emphasized that the ‘Art Lab,’ in collaboration with UNESCO, aims to enhance children’s skills through the arts, highlighting that arts serve not only as a form
of entertainment but as a powerful language that enables children to express their feelings, understand their surroundings, and engage with others through creative writing and acting.
For his part, HE Salah El Din Zaki Khaled said that the ‘Art Lab’ initiative comes within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between UNESCO and the Qatar Foundation for Social Work in 2022.
He pointed out that the initiative, which was launched in 2018 and implemented in various contexts around the world, aims to facilitate social inclusion through artistic expression imbued with ethical principles based on cultural rights.
Source: Qatar News Agency