Dubai: In an open meeting titled "Leadership Listens... Generation Acts", His Excellency Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, met with the students of the Safety Ambassadors Council, which operates under the General Department of Human Rights at Dubai Police. The Council aims to empower students, strengthen their community role, build their leadership and knowledge capabilities, and prepare them to be effective ambassadors in spreading a culture of safety and supporting efforts to protect the community.

During the meeting, held at the Dubai Police Officers Club, Al Marri listened to the experiences of the Safety Ambassadors and the valuable knowledge they gained from the Council's programmes, including the "Sawaed Al Aman" (Arms of Safety) programme. He also heard stories that demonstrated the impact of the training in developing their cognitive and cultural abilities and awareness levels, reflecting positively on their personal and family lives, in their school and community environments, and even abroad through their participation in ambassador programmes, humanitarian initiatives, and more.

The meeting was attended by Brigadier Faisal Al Khumairi, Director of the General Department of Human Rights; Brigadier Abdulaziz Al Abdullah, Deputy Director of the General Department of the Academy; Brigadier Abdulrahman Sharaf Al Maamari, Director of the Hemaya International Centre; Major Rashid Nasser Al Ali, Head of the Safety Ambassadors Council; and a number of Dubai Police employees and parents of the ambassadors.

Al Marri directed the Safety Ambassadors to be positive and to always serve as outstanding representatives of their nation through the skills and knowledge they have acquired. He urged them to share the knowledge they have gained with their classmates, in the community, and wherever they go. At the same time, coinciding with the nation's celebration of the Year of the Family, he stressed the importance of family and of being dutiful to their parents.

Al Marri said: "We in the United Arab Emirates are fortunate to have you. Our nation, led by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and their brothers, the Rulers of the Emirates and the Crown Princes, places great importance on family, on inspiring Emirati role models, and on honourable representation."

He continued: "Our wise leadership, your parents, and your families need to see in you an outstanding model, one that reflects the positivity of citizens and residents in the UAE and its impact on their environment, community, school, and educational facilities."

Al Marri added: "We will follow your journey at every stage of your lives, in school, in the community, at university and college, and even in your future workplace." He affirmed that the Safety Ambassadors Council seeks to strengthen communication with the community and focuses its objectives on raising a righteous generation within the family environment. He wished success to all ambassadors, encouraging them to always be positive role models, preserve Emirati customs, traditions, and values, and develop their leadership and skills across various fields.

“Ambassadors” Share Their Experiences

During the meeting, a number of Safety Ambassadors Council members shared their experiences with Lt. Gen. Al Marri. Since its launch in 2021, the Council has graduated 120 ambassadors through its specialised training programme, "Sawaed Al Aman", equipping them with leadership and knowledge capabilities.

Safety Ambassador Mahra Al Mulla expressed her happiness at being part of the "Sawaed Al Aman" programme, noting that the experience made her more aware and positively impacted her. It motivated her to become a role model in the community and to pass on the knowledge she gained to her classmates at school, spreading awareness of the Child Rights Law "Wadeema" among them.

Honourable Representation: From Safety Ambassadors to South Korea

Meanwhile, Safety Ambassador Ahmed Faisal, a graduate of the first cohort of the "Sawaed Al Aman" programme, expressed his gratitude to Dubai Police General Command and the Safety Ambassadors programme for the significant role they played in developing his character and enhancing his knowledge. He had recently returned from representing the country through his school in South Korea and had previously won first place in the Arab Reading Challenge in its second year.

Ahmed Faisal said that the programme impacted him in three main areas: first, it taught him to take responsibility and spread awareness of positive values, behaviours, and concepts of citizenship; second, it gave him the ability to speak in public; and third, it taught him to represent his nation in the best possible manner, and the last of these was representing his school as part of an educational programme in South Korea.

Confidence and Awareness

Safety Ambassador Selena bint Hamed affirmed that the "Sawaed Al Aman" programme increased her self-confidence, taught her to speak publicly, and helped shape her into a leader. She has been working to raise awareness among her friends at school about bullying, cybercrime, and other issues. Meanwhile, Safety Ambassador Alia Al Kendi said that the "Sawaed Al Aman" experience is rich and distinctive, teaching her to develop herself and her security awareness, which has had a positive impact on those around her, both at home and at school, through spreading awareness.

From Trainees to Trainers

Amal Al Obaidli, who skilfully moderated the meeting with the Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, reaffirmed that her journey with the "Sawaed Al Aman" programme began in 2021. She attended awareness workshops on safety and child rights, which equipped her with skills in radio presentation, public speaking, and taking responsibility. She explained that she has now become a trainer in the Safety Ambassadors programme and recently participated in passing on knowledge to the fourth cohort.

She added: "That is why all of us in Sawaed Al Aman started as trainees and have become trainers for the programme, to share knowledge with the generations after us."

An Experience in Jordan

Safety Ambassador Abdelrahman Al Hajjaji spoke about his experience in the "Sawaed Al Aman" programme, which included a visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and refugee camps, where he took part in several child rights awareness activities. He noted that participation in the Safety Ambassadors programme contributed to strengthening his personal abilities, including public speaking.

At the conclusion of the Commander-in-Chief's meeting with the ambassadors, the Safety Ambassadors Council organised a dialogue session during which he listened to the observations and suggestions of the ambassadors from the previous four cohorts, with the aim of developing the programme in future editions.