The first track equips participants with the knowledge and skills needed to raise child safety
awareness
Sharjah, 8 October 2026 : The Child Safety Organisation (CSO) has completed four training programmes under its ‘Ahl Al Athar’ initiative, strengthening Parents’ Council members’ knowledge and skills to promote child safety awareness among families, schools and the wider community. Delivered throughout September, the programmes form part of the initiative’s knowledge development track, which prepares participants to become preventive awareness ambassadors across Sharjah.
This is the first of the initiative’s three tracks, alongside train-the-trainer preparation and school-based implementation. It includes seven training programmes running until November 2026 and is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to communicate with families and deliver clear, reliable awareness messages on issues relating to child safety and protection.
The programmes delivered during September covered family communication and building relationships with children, media engagement, ways to activate parental controls on devices, and age ratings for games and films. Together, these programmes build participants’ communication and digital safety skills, preparing them for the subsequent stages of the initiative.
The September training programmes were delivered in collaboration with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), the UAE Cybersecurity Council, Emirates Health Services, and Sharjah Media Academy, affiliated with the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority.
Parents as partners in building awareness
Nahla Al Saadi, Deputy Director of the Child Safety Organisation, said: “The family is the first environment in which a child’s knowledge, behaviour and sense of safety are shaped. Strengthening parents’ capacities is therefore a fundamental pillar of an effective and sustainable child protection system. Through ‘Ahl Al Athar’, we aim to equip parents with the knowledge, practical tools and communication skills that help them anticipate potential risks, build positive dialogue with their children, and respond to the challenges they may face with greater awareness and confidence.”
She added: “The initiative was designed to translate awareness into practical, everyday action, while empowering parents to play a role that extends beyond their own families into the wider community. By sharing knowledge, supporting other families and communicating trusted child safety messages, parents can help broaden the initiative’s impact and contribute to fostering a community-wide culture built on prevention, early intervention and shared responsibility for protecting children.”
Communication and media engagement skills
Training on family communication and building relationships with children focused on the importance of daily interaction in strengthening trust between parents and children. Participants also attended two media engagement sessions designed to strengthen their public communication skills and their ability to deliver child safety awareness messages with clarity and confidence.
Digital safety training provided parents with practical guidance on managing children’s access to devices and content, including the use of parental control settings and age classifications to make more informed decisions about games and films.
The knowledge development track will continue until November 2026. Its October programmes will address mental health and family well-being, supporting parents to manage challenges and strengthen family resilience. In November, the track will include a programme on creative content creation, alongside a specialised programme delivered in cooperation with the UAE Cybersecurity Council.
Awareness Creates Impact
The ‘Ahl Al Athar’ initiative, launched by the Child Safety Organisation under the slogan ‘Awareness Creates Impact’, brings together 15 members of Parents’ Councils from Sharjah City and the central and eastern regions, equipping them to serve as preventive awareness ambassadors in schools and the wider community.
The initiative is being delivered in partnership with the Parents’ Councils affiliated with the Department of District Affairs, its main strategic partner, to strengthen cooperation among families, schools and organisations working in the fields of prevention and child protection.
The initiative focuses on six key areas: digital safety; family communication and positive parenting; psychological and educational support; protection and psychological response; social values and positive habits; and responsible media engagement.
It uses unified educational content, approved training tools and structured partnerships with schools. Its impact will be assessed through programme participation, beneficiary reach, evaluation results and participant feedback, supporting the development of a qualified network of community awareness ambassadors committed to promoting a culture of child safety.
