Abu Dhabi rolls out summer activities for youngsters

Parents not going on holiday this summer may be concerned about how to keep their children occupied during the hot months. One of the options is the Sayfuna Mumayaz (Our Summer is Special) programme which aims to combine entertainment and education. Courses will be provided for children enrolled in public and private schools in grades 2 to 11 in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region. “The programme was specially designed to enhance the academic performance of the students in the areas of English language, Information Technology and life skills,” Mohammad Salem Al Daheri, Executive Director of School Operations at Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec). Some parents may prefer to enroll their children in physical activities such as martial arts. “Because my children attend a difficult school, I like to give them a break from their studies. So I put them in private clubs where they play sports,” said Ola Abdul Majeed, a Palestinian mother of two boys aged eight and five. The programme schedule includes hands-on activities such as art and crafts and sports including swimming, jiu jitsu, judo, wrestling, aikido, football, karate, horse riding, table tennis and billiards. For adults, the Emirates Palace is holding several including the Jazz at the Palace event featuring local band Cool’s the Rule which has performed in major events around the country. However, residents in the capital should also be aware that some venues such as Cipriani Yas Island will be closed from July 1 until October 1 to reallocate their staff and prepare for the F1 Grand Prix in November. Gulf News