As the 15th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2024) drew to a close on Sunday, it marked a new chapter in its ongoing journey of fostering creativity and knowledge to 157,381 visitors throughout the 12 days, amassing more than 1,000 hours of enriching content. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) under the theme ‘Once Upon a Hero’, the festival, held at Expo Centre Sharjah, hosted over 1,500 activities including workshops, panel discussions, and performances, spanning various domains such as literature, arts, sports, technology, illustration, music, and more. This event was a reflection of the visionary leadership and directives of…
Author: Kashan Tumsil
BioAro’s latest innovation – Genomic Analysis Software PanOmiQ will reduce health risks significantly and thus extend the life-span of people in future. BioAro, a pioneer in genomic research and technology, has officially launched PanOmiQ, a revolutionary software that will redefine the landscape of genomic analysis globally by providing real-time insights into the complexities of the human genome. With unparalleled speed, precision, and versatility, it is set to transform healthcare worldwide. The global launch of PanOmiQ software took place at the Precision Medicine Expo on May 9, 2024, at Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE, and attended by representatives of the Consulate General of…
Australian author Bethany Clark at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2024) has shared invaluable insights on child development through the seemingly simple act of letting children play with their food. Her workshop, titled ‘Toddlers Exploring Food’, thoroughly entertained young children while enlightening their parents with its simple yet significant approach to early childhood education. Clark, addressing a lively audience of toddlers ranging from 1.5 to 4 years old, pointed at the importance of embracing the mess created by children as they eat. “We should normalise the glorious mess that kids make while eating and make it normal for…
In a culinary adventure inspired by Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, young children set about making colourful cupcakes at the “Wonka Whimsical Kitchen” workshop during the 15th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) taking place in Expo Centre Sharjah. Inspired by the beloved character in the story, the Oompa Loompa cupcakes were the perfect foundations to ignite their creativity. Chef Svetlana Kuznetsova gave each participant a readymade cupcake, pink and blue coloured cream in a piping bag, and sprinkles. The children squeezed the cream on top of the cupcake, topped it with sprinkles, stuck an Oompa…
The Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2024) witnessed an engaging panel discussion on the power of graphic novels in addressing current social issues. The discussion, moderated by Alia Al Mansoori, saw Georgian children’s author Dr Leah Shalvashvili and other writers and illustrators Istabraq Ahmed, Leila Boukarim and Aisha Abdullah, delve into the immense potential of novels with illustrations as a medium for showcasing diverse perspectives. With the rise of graphic novels as a popular form of literature, the discussion highlighted how this visual medium has evolved to tackle a wide range of topics including diversity, inclusion, mental health and environmental…
This year’s Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2024) is a hive of activity, especially for science enthusiasts. On Saturday, a group of children aged 8 years and above gathered at The Brain Pavilion to participate in the ‘Make an Electric Motor’ workshop. Led by Sara Mezher, a filmmaker with a penchant for science, the workshop promised an engaging hands-on experience. Excited to see a copper wire swirl and dance like a ballerina on its own, children took seats at the table that had AA battery cells, a few neodymium magnets, and bare copper wires of a few inches long,…
The immense possibilities posed by the world of social media have been gripping the young and the old alike, but navigating wisely is not something that everyone is adept at. An opportunity to understand the science behind it was made available to children attending the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) in Expo Centre Sharjah at the “Algorithm Explorers: Understanding How Social Media Works” session. Aya Badr, a copywriter who is active on social media in her personal and official capacity, decoded the mysterious ways of algorithms to young social media users mostly in their teens. Introducing an algorithm to her…
If there’s a surefire way to get young, fussy eaters to embrace nutritious options, it’s by offering them the independence to create their own meals and snacks. The Cookery Corner at the Sharjah Children Reading Festival (SCRF 2024) witnessed young aficionados exercise this freedom to create healthy and filling beverages at the ‘Super Smoothies’ workshop held on Saturday. During the 30-minute workshop, instructor Lamia Msallam laid down a host of easily available seasonal ingredients like strawberries, bananas and milk, which the participants whizzed up to create creamy and colourful beverages that can be enjoyed for breakfast or a snack. A…
Nesting dolls, a cherished set of colourful wooden figurines nested within one another in decreasing sizes, have long been synonymous with Russian craftsmanship. However, workshop instructor Lotorieva Svitlana Nikolaerna revealed to a group of young attendees of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2024), that the origins of this beloved art form trace back to Japan. “These are not Russian dolls, these are Fukuruma from Japan. Matryoshka, or Russian dolls, as you call them worldwide, were inspired from Japanese art in the 19th century,” she said, while preparing the tables for her workshop ‘Mini Doll Set’, placing wooden nesting…
Learning to become builders and town planners at a young age is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and children attending the 15th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF), on Saturday, had that rare chance to use their hands and brains to get creative. At the ‘Little Builders’ workshop conducted by Ukrainian craftsman and designer Rubau Taras, children unlocked their imagination and created a future city that was sustainably and thoughtfully planned. As an introduction, Taras showed them videos of architectural styles and marvels worldwide, explaining how building styles have evolved over centuries. Nearly a dozen children sat huddled around three…