Prof. Rana Dajani participated in Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week, organized in collaboration with the WED Forum in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The event aimed to enhance collaboration and knowledge exchange among partners in the field of early childhood development.
Additionally, the event featured meaningful discussions on early childhood development, where prof. Dajani, alongside over 60 experts, participated in specialized sessions covering key topics such as effective parenting, culture and identity, and sustainable, family-friendly cities.
In a session titled “Culture and Identity,” Dajani highlighted the We Love Reading program’s role in fostering culture and identity in children through read-aloud sessions conducted by volunteers trained to read in the mother language which one of the program’s main points. She also emphasized the importance of WLR children’s books, which illustrate and convey local culture to children, fostering their connection to it.
The discussions emphasized enhancing cultural values through reading, which contributes to children’s development and positively impacts communities, and the role of a cultural environment and reading in supporting children’s growth and developing their skills, empowering them to reach their full potential.
The event attracted over 600 international experts and specialists from 20 diverse sectors and featured 25 interactive sessions led by more than 75 prominent speakers.
As the first event of its kind in the region, Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week aimed to foster global dialogue on early childhood development topics, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, building strategic partnerships, and proposing innovative solutions to shape the future of early childhood development.