Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center in Abu Dhabi, UAE has hosted new batches of potential guides for the Ibn Elder and Junior Cultural Guide programmes, which were launched towards supporting and developing a qualified national workforce in the field of cultural guidance in the UAE.
The Ibn Elder programme provides the participants with an opportunity to work within its part-time scheme at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center upon passing a cultural guidance course. Participants carry out cultural tours in accordance with international cultural guidance quality standards that meet the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center's vision and objectives, and are trained by local national cultural guidance specialists affiliated to the Center. Training, over four weeks, covers conduct of cultural guides, information acquisition, discussions on frequently-asked questions and educational field trips to similar tourist and cultural destinations in the UAE.
The Junior Cultural Guide programme, held at the mosque's premises in Abu Dhabi will host 50 students between the ages of 11 and 15 till mid-August, over the summer break, in cooperation with both ADEC and Emirates Transport. It aims to highlight the profession of cultural guidance in the UAE, and the cultural and social role played by Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center.
A new theme to the Junior Cultural Guide programme this year is My lovely language, which coincides with the public reading initiative launched by HH Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. My lovely language will help the children to deliver the tours in precise Arabic. The children will be taught five new Arabic words a day and encourage to use them during their tours.
Another theme added to the programme is Community Service, and involves inviting guests with special needs to participate during the training sessions. This helps to highlight the importance of volunteering, introduces the services that are available at the mosque in this regard, and educates the children on the nuances of interacting with people with special needs.