Jawaher praises Rubu' Qarn alumni's cast-iron belief in Sharjah's leadership

Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Sharjah Family and Community Council, attended a ceremony celebrating over one thousand alumni of Sharjah Children, Sharjah Youth, Sajaya Young Ladies of Sharjah, and Sharjah Capabilities Development, alongside forty pioneers from the founding generation of Rubʿ Qarn entities and staff members who dedicated over two decades of expertise and service.

These individuals played a pivotal role in establishing a distinguished educational and cultural ecosystem that has nurtured generations that stand today as leaders within the government organizations in Sharjah and across the United Arab Emirates. 

The ceremony was held on Saturday evening at Sharjah Children and Sajaya Young Ladies centres in Al Qarain area, as part of a strategic initiative organised by the Rubʿ Qarn Foundation under the title “RQ Odyssey”.

The initiative embodies the depth of the cultural project led by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, over four decades of sustained investment in human development.

A journey that started with the establishment of Sharjah’s first children’s library to the evolution of a pioneering organization that continues to demonstrate a unique model of leadership in youth development through a dedicated system towards building and empowering conscious and influential generations who are capable of shaping the future and overcoming its challenges. 

In her address, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi spoke to the pioneers who led the successful journey of the Rubʿ Qarn organizations, stating: “This is how Sharjah has always guided us, and how the leader of its cultural vision, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has instilled in us the belief that human beings are the foundation of every project.

The ceremony was held on Saturday evening at Sharjah Children and Sajaya Young Ladies centres in Al Qarain area.

You are the ones who drew the first steps of Rubʿ Qarn’s journey, and the pioneers who planted the first seed of a path that His Highness believed in until it grew with your efforts into a national project that cultivates leaders and embraces creativity and innovation. Over the years, your belief in the vision of Sharjah’s leadership and your ongoing commitment have contributed to building generations that are aware and creative, capable of foresighting and shaping the future.

Today, the impact you have planted is present in every member and graduate of Rubʿ Qarn. We are proud of you, of the journey you led with determination and devotion, as well as the positive transformation you have brought to our communities.”

'Each day opened a new page' 

Her Highness also addressed the alumni of Rubʿ Qarn organizations, saying: “Years have passed, and each day you opened a new page of a story written with perseverance and determination to build your character and shape your skills. You learned that your path in life thrives through knowledge, eases only through patience, and shines when pairing your noble intentions with the love you have for your country. At every stage in your journey, you proved that you are capable of carrying a message of goodness and shaping a future worthy of yourself and the land that embraces you.

Most of you spent a quarter of a century within Rubuʿ Qarn. I watched you seeking knowledge, competing in sports, creating crafts and arts, savouring music, telling stories through theatre, and harnessing technology in service of your community. Through all of this, I saw you becoming more responsible, and striving to build a compassionate society that always seeks goodness.

You are my sons and daughters, and I am proud of your personalities, which are the face of Sharjah. Continue the journey of exploring yourselves before knowing your community and its needs. Be the support that your country needs, and your country will take pride in you.” 

First children’s library 

In a recorded address delivered on the occasion, Sheikha Jawaher Bint Abdullah Al Qassimi, Director General of Rubʿ Qarn for Creating Leaders and Innovators, expressed her pride in the cultural and developmental journey that began four decades ago. She recalled Sharjah in 1985, when His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah inaugurated the first children’s library in Al Riffa’ neighbourhood.

This milestone marked the beginning of a growing journey that expanded to include more than thirty centres welcoming the children of Sharjah and providing learning environments where talents are nurtured and leadership and creativity are formed.

Sheikha Jawaher affirmed that celebrating the graduates of this journey is a celebration of the founders’ vision.

This journey hit another milestone through the establishment of the Rubuʿ Qarn Foundation in 2016, uniting four key organizations under a single umbrella, and offering integrated pathways across diverse fields and graduating generations that are capable of shaping the future, under the generous patronage and close attention of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and His Wife HH Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Family and Community Council, who envisioned these centres as homes of knowledge and fertile spaces for realizing dreams.

She affirmed that celebrating the graduates of this journey is a celebration of the founders’ vision and the dedication of teams who carried this mission with unwavering belief. Each graduate standing today represents a success story extended across time, united by one enduring meaning: when the path is filled by human potential, the future will certainly thrives.

Values of teamwork

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Khawla Al Haway, Director of Sharjah Children, noted that the innovative experiences fostered by the organizations of Rubʿ Qarn, played a central role in shaping her character and instilling values of teamwork and responsibility. She emphasized that the skills and knowledge they acquired during childhood formed the foundation of their professional contributions today and the role they play in formulating creative experiences for future generations.

She added: “We are fortunate to have a roadmap developed from the vision of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and the support of his wife, the Chairperson of Sharjah Family and Community Council. This enlightened vision has illuminated our path. We are blessed with leadership that believes that human capital is the nation’s true wealth. From here, the beginning was made and the impact will continue.”

A journey through time

 “RQ Odyssey” initiative stands as a powerful embodiment of the pioneering role of Rubuʿ Qarn Foundation in preparing future generations to become leaders, innovators, and bearers of the torch of knowledge that was lit in Sharjah and continues to lighten new paths locally and globally.

The celebration extended beyond the main ceremony to the outdoor spaces of the Sharjah Children and Sajaya Young Ladies centres in Al Qarain, featuring a series of side activities, including a memorabilia exhibition showcasing artworks, photographs, medals, and trophies reflecting the achievements of RQ graduates. Interactive stations offered visual displays, documentary materials, historical artifacts, classic games, and artistic sessions using robotics, which blends entertainment, learning, and knowledge into an immersive experience that reflects the journey of Rubuʿ Qarn since it was launched until present day.

The initiative also provided graduates with a live media experience highlighting their personal journeys and the key programmes they participated in across Rubuʿ Qarn entities, demonstrating the profound impact of these programmes on their professional paths and their qualification to become influential to their community.

The ceremony was attended by Sheikha Aisha Bint Mohammd Al Qasimi, Sheikha Jawaher Bint Abdullah Al Qassimi, Director General of the Rubuʿ Qarn Foundation, Sheikha Nawar Bint Ahmed Al Qasimi, Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation, along with a number of Rubuʿ Qarn staff members and senior leaders from Sharjah government entities and organizations.