SciTech family forum enhances awareness

AL-KHOBAR — The recently concluded family forum was instrumental in enhancing the level of educational and cultural awareness among all segments of society with regard to vital family and behavioral issues. The fourth edition of the forum, titled: “Naraak” (We care for you), was organized by the Prince Sultan Center for Science and Technology (SciTech) at King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). Several prominent sociologists and educationalists from within the Kingdom and other Gulf states presented working papers at the forum, which was held under the aegis of Eastern Province Emir Prince Saud Bin Naif. The workshops at the forum have turned into brainstorming sessions on several key family issues and societal problems, such as value of human being, intellectual security, family relations, marriage issues, behavioral problems, improving relations between parents and children, preventing family breakup, fostering moderation and combating extremism. The forum was also helpful in boosting self-confidence of young men and women which is crucial for bettering relationship among family members and improving their efficiency as family members. Inaugurating the forum, KFUPM President Khaled Al-Sultan underscored the significance of intellectual security, saying that it is the responsibility of not only individuals but also families and the society as well. Habeeb Abu Al-Hamail, director general of SciTech, said that the forum was a big success in realizing its goal of making aware of the people in the Eastern Province about many vital issues that are significant to their personal and family lives as well as to the smooth running of the society. The forum was helpful in enabling them to embrace several core values. On his part, Waleed Al-Rasheed, director of public relations at SciTech, said that the forum listened to certain concrete proposals and suggestions from the participants, whose number exceeded 5,700. The Ministry of Interior was the strategic partner of the forum, and its sponsors included the education office in Al-Khobar, Rawabi Holding Co., and DMM Television. An exhibition on intellectual security was held on the sidelines of the forum. The pavilions at the exhibitions included the General Presidency of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, Anti-Drugs Department in the Eastern Province, and Prince Muhammad Bin Fahd Foundation for Humanitarian Development.