Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 22 September 2020:  In an initiative to activate its role as official culture supporter of the Expo 2020 Dubai, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority extracted a time capsule in which wishes of a group of children were enclosed in 2013 before the host country of this global event was announced. The children expressed their hopes regarding Expo 2020 Dubai. The Authority invited the participating children, who are now adolescents and young adults, to the Umm Suqeim Public Library where the time capsule was located to evoke those beautiful moments as well as  to encourage them to interact and be inspired by future aspirations.

 

As part of its commitment to educating community members, especially children, about important key events in the emirate and involving them in celebrating national achievements, Dubai Culture had organised a programme under the title ‘My Library & Expo’ on 13 and 14 November 2013 within Dubai Public Library in its two branches, Umm Suqeim and Mankhool. The aim was to support Dubai’s hosting of this international exhibition under the slogan ‘Connecting Minds…Creating the Future,’ especially as the emirate is the first city in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia to host this large global event. The programme hosted about 200 students and people from various nationalities who wrote their wishes that they hoped would be fulfilled over the coming seven years. The Authority collected these wishes and saved them within a time capsule contents of which would be unveiled at the appropriate time.

 

Dubai Culture surprised the attendees at Umm Suqeim Public Library with the letters they had written years ago, and reminded them about their wishes that were full of love and youthful aspirations, instilling in them pride for belonging to the homeland and documenting the entire experience in a video that was shared on the Authority’s digital platforms.

 

The wishes of one group centred around raising the UAE flag at the exhibition and participating as ambassadors for Expo 2020, while the wishes of another group revolved around their being granted the opportunity to paint a picture there. The wishes of yet another group focused around Dubai’s nomination as a global city and for the emirate to become one of the most beautiful, secure, and stable cities in the world by, among other reasons.

 

This step comes in line with the priorities of Dubai Culture’s updated strategic roadmap to stimulate the active participation of community members in the cultural movement and inspire a new generation on communication and creativity. This initiative is part of the activities and programmes organised by the Authority, as official culture supporter of the Expo 2020 Dubai, to enhance community members’ engagement, in line with its strategy that is inspired from Dubai’s vision to remain a shining model for development based on community happiness, thus contributing to strengthening the emirate’s position as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent. This step is also consistent with the Authority’s commitment to supporting the National Programme for Happiness and Positivity by organising programmes and launching initiatives that spread happiness in society.