Guardians of Heritage 2.0 Empowers Young Emirati Girls

Guardians of Heritage 2.0 trains Emirati girls in crafts, preserving UAE culture, strengthening identity, and connecting generations through tradition

Bianca Qureshi• 8/28/2025• 774 Views

The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood has launched an inspiring programme called Guardians of Heritage 2.0. This initiative aims to prepare a new generation of female artisans in the UAE who will help keep the country’s cultural heritage alive. By training young girls in traditional crafts, the programme ensures that these crafts do not disappear and are passed on to future generations.

The programme is being carried out in collaboration with the General Women’s Union’s Centre for Traditional Industries and Handicrafts, which has been at the heart of protecting Emirati heritage for decades.

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Training The Next Generation

Guardians of Heritage 2.0 focuses on training girls aged 8 to 15 years in traditional crafts. Skilled craftswomen, known as the Heritage Guardians team, will guide the participants. This team has a long history, dating back to 1975, when the UAE established its first specialised handicrafts centre. Since then, the team has played a vital role in keeping traditional knowledge alive.

Learning Heritage Arts And Crafts

The girls will learn a wide range of Emirati traditional skills. These include:

Perfume and incense making
Talli embroidery
Froukhah crafting
Henna design
Hospitality traditions
Culinary arts
Preparing authentic Emirati coffee

Through these activities, the children will not only develop creativity but also build a strong bond with their cultural roots.

Celebrating Emirati Children’s Day

The launch of Guardians of Heritage 2.0 matches the theme of Emirati Children’s Day 2025, which is “The Right to Culture and National Identity.” By involving young girls in cultural activities, the programme highlights the importance of connecting generations. It ensures that children grow up with knowledge of their heritage and an appreciation for its values and beauty.

The Role Of The Centre For Traditional Industries And Handicrafts

The General Women’s Union’s Centre for Traditional Industries and Handicrafts plays a major role in reviving heritage. It empowers women by giving them training and job opportunities in heritage crafts. The centre also works to:

Raise cultural awareness by teaching the public about heritage traditions.
Develop heritage products by blending traditional designs with modern creativity.
Strengthen national identity by encouraging pride in Emirati traditions.
Organise workshops, exhibitions, and festivals that showcase Emirati crafts.

The centre also runs permanent and seasonal exhibitions where heritage products are displayed, making them accessible to the community and visitors.

Vision Of Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak

The centre was originally established in 1978 by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, under the initiative of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, known as the Mother of the Nation. She is the Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation.

Her vision was to celebrate the UAE’s past, protect its authenticity, and anchor national identity in the hearts of the people. Guardians of Heritage 2.0 reflects this same vision by involving the young generation in cultural preservation.

Programme Objectives

The programme has several important goals, including:

Reviving heritage crafts and protecting them from extinction.
Building a strong cultural foundation for society.
Teaching young generations about the history and lifestyle of their ancestors.
Supporting women, especially those with limited income, by enabling them to benefit economically from their skills.

Specialised Workshops

The centre provides specialised workshops where Emirati women practice and teach traditional crafts. Some of the crafts taught in these workshops include:

Talli (a type of embroidery)
Khous (palm frond weaving)
Sadu weaving
Sewing and embroidery
Modern handicrafts

A permanent exhibition at the centre also shows artefacts and items from daily life in the UAE’s past, giving children a chance to see how people lived before the modern era.

Strengthening Intergenerational Bonds

One of the most unique features of the Guardians of Heritage 2.0 is how it brings together senior Emirati women and young girls. By working side by side, the older generation passes on traditional skills while also building strong connections with the youth.

The programme also presents traditions in a child-friendly way, making it easier for children to understand and enjoy. This ensures that these traditions do not just stay in museums but remain alive in daily life.

Preserving Intangible Heritage

The initiative goes beyond crafts. It also supports the protection of the UAE’s intangible heritage, which includes poetry, proverbs, traditional dances like ayala and harbiya, songs like taghrooda, and other cultural practices. By documenting and teaching these traditions, the programme ensures they continue to be celebrated by future generations.

Statements By Her Excellency Rym Bint Abdullah Al Falasi

Her Excellency Rym bint Abdullah Al Falasi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, explained that the programme follows the guidance of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. She stressed that the initiative strengthens efforts to protect the UAE’s cultural heritage, ensures its role in society, and guarantees it is passed on from one generation to another.

She highlighted that the programme provides a fun and immersive experience for the children, allowing them to live and practice heritage as part of their everyday life. By learning directly from mothers and grandmothers, children will discover the crafts that once supported families and communities in the UAE before the modern era.

Importance Of Heritage For Children

Her Excellency also noted that when children and youth engage with their traditions, they not only learn about their culture but also strengthen family bonds. This helps them appreciate their roots, build self-confidence, and develop respect for other cultures around the world.

She also called on parents to encourage their children to take part in such cultural activities. Doing so helps children develop loyalty and pride in their national identity, while also ensuring they carry these traditions into the future.

The Guardians of Heritage 2.0 programme is a powerful step towards keeping Emirati traditions alive. By training young girls in heritage crafts and connecting them with senior women, the programme builds a bridge between past and present. It not only safeguards cultural knowledge but also strengthens national identity and inspires pride among future generations.

Through this initiative, the UAE continues to show its commitment to protecting its deep-rooted history and ensuring that traditions remain a living part of everyday life.