The closing activities of the Children’s University for the sixth stage at Ain Shams University

Prof. Shahera Samir, Executive Director of the International Relations and Academic Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Noha Al-Rafi’i, Deputy Director of the Grants and Projects Department and Coordinator of the Children’s University at Ain Shams University, witnessed the closing ceremony of the sixth phase of the Children’s University at Ain Shams University, under the patronage of Prof. Ghada Farouk, Acting President of the University, Prof. Mahmoud Sakr, President of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, Prof. Gina El-Feki, Executive Director of the Children’s University, in the presence of Prof. Osama Al-Sayed, Dean of the Faculty of Specific Education, Prof. Muhammad Ragaa Al-Satohi, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Prof. Hossam Tantawi, Dean of the Faculty of Archeology, Prof. Amani Hanafi, former Dean of the Faculty and Coordinator of the Children’s University Program in the Faculty of Specific Education, Prof. Sherweit El-Ahmady, Director of the international students and mobility office, and a group of deputies, faculty staff, faculty students, parents, and children of the Children’s University.

Prof. Shahira Samir, Director of the International Relations Sector at the University, praised the idea of the Children’s University, which was adopted by the Academy of Scientific Research, as it builds the child’s personality in a distinguished scientific manner, as well as the interest of the deans of the Facultys, their unlimited giving, and their keenness to acquaint the children with all the details, each in his field.

She explained that the idea of the Children's University began in Europe when they wanted to establish communication between children at a young age and professors at universities to educate people about the opportunities available in universities, noting that Egypt is the only country outside the European Union that participates in the Children's University program.

She stressed that the university’s interest in the Children’s University comes from a desire to instill the value of knowledge in our children, and pointed to the university’s desire to increase the numbers to receive more than 130 children to spread the greatest amount of knowledge to benefit the largest possible number of children.

She praised the effort made through the organization, preparation, and good implementation of the activities of the Children’s University at Ain Shams University.

Dr. Noha Al-Rafi’i, Deputy Director of the Grants and Projects Department and Coordinator of the Children’s University at Ain Shams University, explained that the state is moving towards investing in children and youth, so the activities and events of the Children’s University were developed to serve this investment, as it received all support from the leaders and the desired goal of the Children’s University was achieved. The children realized that there was a big world waiting for them. She stressed that the success of the Children’s University project is not an individual effort, but rather an institutional effort in which all university leaders, bodies and departments contributed. She thanked the university leaders, sectors and departments from the Media Center, the Movement and Transport Department, the Solidarity Department, the University Security Department and Public Relations. She particularly thanked the support of the International Relations and Academic Cooperation Sector, led by Prof. Shahira Samir Zaki, and the support he provided to make the events successful and carry them out to the fullest extent, and the grants and project management team led by Prof. Tamer Al-Nadi, as the management team was present with the children throughout the activities in each Faculty throughout all the days of the project to facilitate all the obstacles facing the Faculty coordinators and carry out the technical, administrative and financial work, and it was one of the most important pillars of the project’s success.

Children's activities were reviewed during the Children's University activities, which included an introductory lecture about each Faculty, where the children learned about lectures and training in nursing technical laboratories on the principles of first aid for wounds, bleeding, burns, and fractures at the Faculty of Nursing, in addition to the carbon footprint, climate, and waste recycling at the Faculty of Environmental Studies and Research, and how to manufacture toothpaste, soap, and blood acidity in the Faculty of Pharmacy laboratories.

During their visit to the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the children learned about how brainstorming and success work, defining it, and working in a team. During their visit to the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences, they learned about the basics of programming and artificial intelligence.

In addition to the principles and basics of science and physics, and a visit to the Botany and Insects Departments at the Faculty of Science. The children received a lecture on food and how the heart works at the Faculty of Medicine.

Many artistic activities were carried out in the Faculty of Specific Education, and it is worth noting that the Faculty trains children in the annual choir for the project’s closing parties and all the singing and musical segments.

The children also learned about how to extract energy and sound systems during their visit to the Luban workshop and car maintenance at the Faculty of Engineering, in addition to learning about Egyptian civilization and ancient times during their visit to the Zafaran Museum at Ain Shams University, and a simplified explanation was given about the archaeological exhibits it contains.

For the first time this year, the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences participates in the program, where the children are introduced to the Faculty’s departments, in addition to discussing the students’ graduation projects in exciting dialogue sessions.

The closing ceremony included artistic performances for the children of the Children’s University: musical and singing pieces led by Maestro Dr. Ahmed Salem and supervised by Prof. Osama Al-Sayed, Dean of the Faculty of Specific Education, Prof. Amani Hanafi, former Dean of the Faculty of Specific Education. In addition to poetry recitals recited by university children and sports performances.

An exhibition was created highlighting the paintings and handicrafts produced by children during the events.