الشارقة 24:
In a significant move to enrich Arab knowledge and stimulate discussions on pressing social issues, the Sharjah Social Association has unveiled five new publications for this year. These works, which delve into social, familial, and educational domains, explore the transformations of the Emirati family, the diversity of knowledge within it, community service, sports values, and insightful human experiences..
These publications are timely, coinciding with the “Year of the Family 2026” in the United Arab Emirates. They align with the association’s objectives to translate national priorities into knowledge-based initiatives that address community needs.
By addressing family-related themes, these books aim to enhance understanding of relationships within families and their role in shaping values and upbringing, while also assessing the social and cognitive factors that impact family cohesion..
Understanding Family Realities and Transformations
Dr. Mohammed bin Jerash, Director of the Sharjah Social Association and a board member, emphasized that the Year of the Family presents an opportunity for community institutions to deepen their contribution toward understanding family realities and needs. He stated, “We are committed to ensuring that the association’s strategy aligns with national direction and translates this connection into knowledge initiatives that give space for family and community issues to be researched and discussed.”
He elaborated further, noting the aim for social knowledge to resonate with people’s everyday lives, address their questions, and illuminate their experiences. “When we explore the family, we are also examining how awareness is formed, values are transmitted, and trust and responsibility are established between generations,” he added.
Among the notable works is the publication “Our Family… The Fabric of Our Life: Scientific Readings on the Transformations of the Contemporary Emirati Family,” contributed by a team of researchers. This collection examines the Emirati family and its transformations, placing family discourse at the heart of social discussions as it serves as the primary environment for upbringing, relationship development, and intergenerational knowledge transfer. Complementing this is Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Al-Mulih’s book, “Cognitive Diversity within the Family and its Impact on Family Structure,” which explores the relationship between varied knowledge sources within the family and its structure, encouraging dialogue and understanding to foster better adaptability to diversity..
Cognitive and Technological Transformations
Dr. Mohammed bin Jerash also pointed out that cognitive and technological transformations significantly influence family life. He remarked that as knowledge sources diversify and generations expand their experiences through evolving communication means, roles, expectations, and relationships will be affected. “It is the responsibility of social research to deeply assess these changes and offer insights that facilitate understanding and informed engagement,” he noted.
Turning from the family to community involvement, the publications include “The Role of Community Service in Achieving the Strategic Goals of the UAE: An Analysis of National Policies and Implementation Models” by Dr. Amani Salem. This book links community service to national objectives, framing community engagement as a vital element within policy and implementation discussions, thus opening discourse on the contributions of community efforts to national development and responsibility..
Additionally, the collection features “Sports Values: Building Community Awareness Against Ideological Deviation” by Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Al-Mulih, which connects sports to its social and ethical dimensions, highlighting respect, cooperation, discipline, and responsibility. This theme enhances the discourse on how sports practices can shape behaviour and foster positive relationships..
Psychological Stories and Social Conversations
The collection also includes “Anxiety Taught Me to Be: Stories from the Edge of Fear to Life Recovery” by Dr. Hala Ibrahim Salem Al-Ablam, which offers psychological narratives and social dialogues, sharing lessons from personal experiences. This work adds a personal dimension to the collection by addressing human challenges and the quest for balance and meaning in life..
Dr. Mohammed bin Jerash affirmed that the diversity of topics reflects the interconnectedness of social experiences. He mentioned that publishing represents a key pathway in the association’s strategy to enhance the prominence of social knowledge in public discourse.
These five publications provide researchers and stakeholders in social, familial, and educational fields with a variety of topics for reading and discussion, aligning with the association’s mission to contribute to the dissemination of knowledge and the deepening of dialogue around family values, community participation, and human experiences..