Introduction
The United Arab Emirates has for long been a country that participated in various categories of sporting activities in the world. Such sporting activities include racket games, swimming, motor racing, etc. These and many more activities in sports have been instrumental in the development extracurricular activities in schools in the United Arab Emirates.The result of these activities is the development of programs that would assist youths and children to realize their full potential in the field of sports (Woods, 2016). One such example is the SayfunaMomayaz. Such specific programs for Children in the United Arab Emirates have been employed to ensure that School going kids and youths improve their lives by participating in extracurricular activities.
Discussion
In the year 2002, SayfunaMomayazwas initiated. The founder of the program was Mohammed Salem Al Dhahiri. This program is one that is aimed to help youths in the united Arab emirate to learn, and engage in sporting activities in the most decent manner. This program ensures that this happens in by providing an environment that is motivating for the sporting activities. In the program, the safety of the sportsmen and availability of the necessary structures are ensured (Woods, 2016). The program gives a chance to parents to ensure that they effectively participate in the preparation of their children to become knowledgeable, skillful and in the development of positive attitudes. The program takes a duration of one month.
SayfunaMomayaz divides its program according to the age of the child. Young children, between the age of two years and eight years, spend their time learning about healthful living, sports and leisure and cultural exploration. A variety of fitness activities is also trained to these children. For instance, judo, and various forms of football. Children between the age of nine and eleven years are engaged in areas which will help them improve their academic performance (Woods, 2016). The fields in which these children are mainly trained in are information technology and English. The exposure is usually a preparation for them to join institutions of higher learning. thesayfunamumayaz programs usually aimed to assist students in government national schools in the Emirates.
There are various benefits of the extracurricular activities run by the SayfunaMomayaz program. The time spent by many youths in unstructured activities end up to the emergence of negative outcomes in their life. Sayfunamumayaz is a program that has structured the activities in which children participate (OECD, 2014). The result of this is the creation of a responsible person out of the activities in which he participates. The activities of this program not only makes the child confident but also instills know-how, skills, and principles, which lead to a positive life. Another benefit of extracurricular activities to the participant is the social land personal development, not to mention improved performance in academics.
Concerning the academic benefits, OECD(2014) states that students who participate in extracurricular activities, which are directed by adults, have improved performance in their academics. Research shows that activities, which fall under the sponsorship of schools, have been more beneficial academically than those, which are under communal sponsorship. The rate of school dropout among students who participate in structured extracurricular activities is low. However, it has been realized that the rate of dropping out of school among students who never participate in the extracurricular activities is considerably high.
Another benefit of participating in extracurricular activities, as those that constitute the SayfunaMumayaz program, is the development of mental health (Marotz, 2017). Research shows that children and adolescents who participate in structured activities have better mental development than their counterparts who do not participate in these activities. This is especially so among participants in this age bracket who are usually at the risk of peer influence and negative academic and personal performances. Structured activities result in improved mental ability, self-esteem and ultimately, the participant acquires great satisfaction as he/she becomes well equipped to deal with a variety of issues in his /her life.
One disadvantage of the SayfunaMumayaz program is that the number of students it allows to participate in its activities is limited. As a result, only a few of the children in the country get proper exposure to structured extracurricular activities. For instance, only students who are in national schools in the United Arab Emirates get a chance to participate in this program. This limitation hinders the performance of many other students in the country in various ways (OECD 2014). For instance, their academic, mental and even social development faces great constraint of survival. The result is that only a few of these students make it to institutions of higher learning.
The SayfunaMomayaz program needs various facilities and resources for its effective performance. These facilities and resources will help the runners of the program to ensure its effective operations. One of such need is the need of proper infrastructure. For instance, the program requires having computers, which could be used in the training of the children in information technology. For this program to be effective, the computers must suit the changes that are occurring in the technological world. This implies that the student’s knowledge will be up to date with the current global standards (https://www.adec.ac.ae/en/AboutADEC/OrganizationStructure/ES/SchoolOperations/Pages/How-do-we-help.aspx).
Another infrastructure, which would greatly benefit the program, is up to date classes. Classes require being appropriately constructed to suit the needs of the training program. Computer laboratories must be built in institutions used to facilitate the program. These laboratories must be modern and fit the global standards. The program runs sporting activities, and this calls for proper equipment as well as playgrounds (OECD 2014). This will ensure that the enrolled children have adequate resources to utilize in achieving their goals. This will make the program a success.
Ultimately, for the program to run effectively and smoothly, it requires appropriate human resource. This is a vast array of resources. According to OECD (2014), it ranges from trainers to coordinators of the program, managers in various capacities as well as directors of the program. One important thing that is usually ensured of the program is that the human resource meet the necessary requirements of knowledge, professionalism, and ethics in their respective fields.
There are various earning outcomes of this program, irrespective of its limitations. One of such outcomes is that it in a great way fosters positive attitude in academics and behavior among the participants. This is usually protective of the participant from harmful relationships, and the effects of idleness (Marotz, 2017). The program also helps students acquire a variety of skills, which helps them to survive in the global platform as well as develop meaningful relationships. One major recommendation I would make of the program is its institution in other levels of schools, not only in national schools. I also recommend that the program be instituted in high schools and institutions of higher learning. This would target the students who never had a chance to undergo important training previously. It would in a great way help them to improve their life.
Conclusion
SayfunaMomayaz has been an instrumental program in ensuring that children in the United Arab Emirates participate on extracurricular activities thus improving their lives. Such activities include cultural orientations and experiences, games, and acquiring of knowledge in English and information technology. The program has yielded great benefits to the participants as most of them are exposed to the world standards during their interactions. Their intellectual capabilities and mental development is also increased.
References
https://www.adec.ac.ae/en/AboutADEC/OrganizationStructure/ES/SchoolOperations/Pages/How-do-we-help.aspx
Marotz, L. R. (2017). Parenting today’s children: A developmental prospective. S.l.: Wadsworth.
OECD. (2014). Education at a Glance 2014: OECD Indicators. (2014). Paris: OECD Publishing.
Woods, R. B. (2016). Social issues in sport. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.