Sprouts of Arfaj: A National Story Cultivating Values of Belonging and Loyalty in Children's Hearts as Part of (Summer Cultural 18)
Kuwait City, August 25 (KUNA) — Children experienced an interactive cultural and artistic event on Tuesday that evoked themes of resilience, loyalty, and belonging, during the open day titled “Arfaj Sprouts: Stories Emerge from Kuwait’s Soil and Loyalty Flourishes.” The event was held at the Kuwait National Library as part of the “Cultural Summer 18” festival organized by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters.
The activity drew inspiration from the Arfaj flower, Kuwait’s national flower, through a series of creative activities aimed at strengthening national identity, nurturing children’s artistic sensibilities, and introducing them to the values and meanings embodied by national symbols.
The event featured an interactive storytelling session of the book “Desert Flower,” part of the “Stories of the Homeland” series by Kuwaiti author Tasmim Al-Husawi, targeted at children aged five to 12. The author presented the story using an interactive narrative style, helping children understand the Arfaj flower’s symbolism of patience, resilience, generosity, belonging, and loyalty to the homeland.
Speaking to KUNA, Fawziya Al-Ali, chair of the cultural activities committee for the festival, said that in addition to the storytelling session, the event included artistic activities for children such as coloring and painting on models, all designed to reinforce national identity. The program also featured the screening of the film “Our Gulf Shines,” produced by the Joint Production Programs Organization of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Al-Ali explained that the film highlights the resilience of GCC member states in the face of challenges they have encountered. She noted that the choice of the Arfaj flower as the central theme of the event was due to its status as a national symbol and the meanings it carries, which align with the activity’s objectives of instilling national values in children through an interactive cultural and artistic approach.
For her part, author Tasmim Al-Husawi expressed her happiness at participating in the event, which honors frontline heroes and their families. She emphasized that the event sheds light on the sacrifices, loyalty, patience, and support provided by these families to frontline heroes in safeguarding Kuwait and its security.
Al-Husawi clarified that the story “Desert Flower” aims to strengthen national identity among children through a narrative inspired by a national symbol that embodies resilience and generosity. She expressed her pride in taking part in an event that highlights the values of loyalty and devotion to the homeland. (End) S.H.D. / N.W.F.
