Children play a key role in the society as they are the deciding factors of how the world would be in the future. If one wants to see some good changes in the world to come, the best thing is to create some good changes in the life of a child. So parenting matters; and here comes the significance of the role played by a parent. By taking cognisance of the reports highlighting this, most countries have started investing more in parenting.
Going by a recent UN report, providing adequate investments that enable children to thrive is a moral imperative, and investing in a child is to invest in society’s future. Most would agree that there could be no more compelling argument than that. The international community has recognised that investing in children is not only essential, but an obligation as outlined under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Qatar remains at the forefront in investing in parents and parenting strategies to bring up its kids to a position where they can positively influence the world.
The recent international conference, entitled ‘Parenting, Child Wellbeing and Development’ organised by the Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), underlines the nation’s commitment towards the cause. Held under the patronage of H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, in the presence of Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, H E Dr Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi, and in partnership with Unicef, the conference brought together policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and experts from around the world.
The conference focused on the importance of investing in parents and parenting strategies — in the form of programmes, laws, and policies at all levels — while identifying the different approaches adopted by governments around the world to achieve these aims.
Qatar’s initiatives on good parenting have received huge round of applauses from the every part of the world and the Regional Director of Unicef, Geert Cappelaere, appreciated Qatar in great words on behalf of Unicef.
Parenting capabilities, and the capacity to provide children with care, are not traits people are born with. Such traits are learned over time, through exposure to one’s surroundings, and can be instilled in parents over time.
Qatar places great value on a child’s wellbeing, through financial, health, and educational means, and has worked to improve childhood projects, qualitatively and quantitatively, following the directives of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to protect all the rights of children.
The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs has also been working on implementing the social protection strategy, which aims to provide a comprehensive and integrated vision in this regard. The role played by various Qatari organisations for the wellbeing of children is also praiseworthy.
Education Above All Foundation, a global initiative founded by H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser in 2012, enrolled as many as 10 million children in education around the world.
Today’s children are tomorrow’s future. Nothing would prevent anyone from stating that Qatar’s future will be brighter as it invests sensibly on its kids.
