Manarat Jeddah and Green Hills International Schools — owned by Maarif Company for Education and Training — recently celebrated the World Children’s Day at Yasmeen Mall in Jeddah.
The UN has designated Nov. 20 as the Children’s Day, and this year, the theme is: “Investing in our future means investing in our children.”
“COVID-19 has changed the lives of everyone. Social distancing and online schools made it challenging to develop social skills. The costs of the pandemic for children are immediate, and their lives look much different than they used to. As Manarat Jeddah and Green Hills International Schools’ vision is ‘to create an atmosphere which develops exemplary character, and fosters multicultural awareness,’ organizing the Children’s Day event was an excellent idea,” the schools said in a statement.
Under the Supervision of Dr. Walid Domyati, general director of Manarat and Green Hills, Maarif set up a stall at the mall and offered children an opportunity to participate in activities such as drawing and coloring competitions, win prizes, take pictures at a beautifully adorned photo booth, and basically have a good time.
Through a host of fun activities, children were able to creatively express themselves and their ideas, and talk about their dreams and who they want to be when they grow up. The participants presented their drawings and explained what Children’s Day means for them. They felt heard and appreciated, which boosted their self-confidence. Children were then awarded for their creative work and active participation.
Teachers from both schools assisted all participants, encouraging them to take part in the activities. They also spoke about children’s rights around the world and how we can help others, encouraging the young ones to think about charity.
Attractive giveaways that included mugs, sanitizers, face masks, coloring books, and puzzles, were distributed together with colorful balloons and chocolates. Everyone showed their excitement and happiness to be able to participate in the event. It was a unique opportunity to showcase children’s artistic skills and enable them to learn more about children’s rights and responsibilities.
A warm and pleasant atmosphere created by the dedicated teachers, administrators and principals from both the schools, allowed everyone to truly feel the spirit of Children’s Day. Feedback from the families of the participating children was highly positive. They said they were happy and thankful for the enjoyment the event brought to their children. The opportunity to learn, have fun and develop social skills was appreciated by all.
“It was really a great experience, my sons enjoyed tremendously. I can’t express how grateful I am to see these bright smiles on their faces,” a mother said.
