Latest News

Embassy celebrates Canadian Thanksgiving and Urban October

Published

3 hours ago

October 18, 2025

admin

KUWAIT: To mark Canadian Thanksgiving 2025 and Urban October 2025, UN-Habitat, the Embassy of Canada in Kuwait, the Youth Public Authority, Shamiya Greenhouse, and the Canadian Women’s Network in Kuwait hosted the children’s event “Come Plant with Us!”. On the sidelines of the event, the Ambassador of Canada to Kuwait, Tara Scheurwater, highlighted the spirit of gratitude and community as the Canadian Embassy celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving with an environmental and educational event held at the Shamiya Greenhouse.

Ambassador Scheurwater explained that Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated at the beginning of October, marking the harvest and its connection to nature, as well as the appreciation of its abundance. She added, “In Canada, when we celebrate Thanksgiving, we do so at the beginning of October because it’s a celebration of the harvest. It’s inextricably linked with nature and with the gratitude we feel for the world around us,” expressing appreciation to the hosts for providing a space that encourages environmental awareness and community engagement.

“We decided to come to this wonderful location with our great hosts, who always do such a fantastic job welcoming the people of Kuwait. The facility here celebrates nature and teaches children and visitors the importance of cultivating and appreciating plants, as well as learning more about recycling and doing our part for the environment,” the Canadian ambassador noted. She added that the Embassy hoped the event would provide an opportunity for visitors to enjoy a meaningful and fun-filled day, while also fostering a sense of gratitude for the natural world. Additionally, the event emphasized the importance of volunteer work, with participation from several community organizations.

She said, “We have so many volunteers here today. I think we might even have more volunteers than children. Volunteers from the Canadian Women’s Association, the Youth Public Authority, and the Shamia Greenhouse have all given up their weekend to be part of this event, along with my colleagues from the Embassy.” Meanwhile, the Head of the UN-Habitat Program in Kuwait, Ameera Alhassan, highlighted the importance of environmental education, community engagement, and volunteerism as part of the UN-Habitat October Urban Month celebrations.

She explained that every October, cities around the world host UN-Habitat activities promoting sustainable urban living. In Kuwait, the program collaborates annually with the Shamiya Greenhouse, and this year marks the third consecutive year of organizing an educational and environmental event for children in cooperation with the Embassy of Canada. “The goal of this activity is to harness the energy of youth to train children through hands-on activities inspired by the natural environment around us. The seeds, plants, and materials used in the four main activities are all derived from natural elements found within the reserve such as seeds and tree leaves.”

She added that the activities are designed to engage children based on their talents and interests, explaining “Those with artistic abilities can join the art workshop, while others can participate in story reading or planting activities, including sowing seeds and transplanting seedlings. The idea is to step away from technology for a while and reconnect with nature especially in light of global climate change.” Alhassan emphasized that the initiative aims to provide families and children with a fun and educational weekend activity, fostering cooperation between the Kuwaiti community and the Canadian community, while encouraging learning through play; acknowledging the ongoing support of the Public Authority for Youth, which manages the Shamiya Reserve.

“The Authority continuously supports us, not only for this event but throughout the year. Every Saturday morning, we organize similar activities based on the season such as the recent date-harvest season, and soon we’ll host a Seed Exchange Day,” she said. She further highlighted the importance of promoting biodiversity, noting that the diversity of seeds strengthens plants, noting “It’s important to raise awareness that we shouldn’t always plant the same type of crop, we need variety to sustain healthy ecosystems.”

On volunteerism, Alhassan stressed its critical role in community development, stating “UN-Habitat has a special section dedicated to youth engagement and volunteerism and strongly encourages the training of students and volunteers. The United Nations also has a dedicated body called the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program, which allows people from around the world to contribute their skills through volunteer work.”

She concluded by emphasizing that UN-Habitat encourages everyone from youth and retirees to homemakers to make good use of their free time in productive and meaningful ways that benefit society. This year’s Urban October was celebrated under the global theme “Local Actions, Global Impact,” which highlighted the importance of community-driven initiatives that contribute to sustainable urban development and climate action. Urban October began with World Habitat Day on October 6th and will conclude with World Cities Day on October 31st, bringing together communities worldwide to reflect on how urban life can become more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.

Held for the third consecutive year, the event once again highlighted the strong collaboration between the Kuwaiti and Canadian communities in promoting environmental awareness and their shared commitment to greening Kuwait. It reflected the community’s continued dedication to sustainability, volunteerism, and civic engagement essential values that contribute to building greener, cleaner, and more sustainable cities.

Children and their families enjoyed a variety of engaging and educational activities, including Sustainable Scavenger Hunt, Green Thumb Project, Art & Craft Corner, and Community Narratives. The event reflected the deep friendship between Canada and Kuwait, as well as the continued cooperation between their communities in advancing youth engagement, environmental stewardship and climate action.

Related Topics:Canadian celebrates Embassy October Thanksgiving Urban

Up Next

IWG and diplomats join TSCK for environmental initiative

Don't Miss

KU nursing students begin clinical training at Amiri Hospital

Click to comment

Latest News

Kuwait to host first Gulf Red Crescent AI conference

Published

16 minutes ago

October 18, 2025

admin

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) has announced that Kuwait will host the inaugural Gulf Red Crescent Conference on Artificial Intelligence on October 22, under the patronage of Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya. The event marks a pioneering step toward developing a unified Gulf vision for harnessing artificial intelligence in humanitarian work, strengthening Kuwait’s role as a hub for humanitarian innovation and Gulf cooperation.

Chairman of the KRCS Board of Directors Khaled Al-Mughamis told KUNA on Saturday that the conference, held under the slogan “Towards New Horizons in Humanitarian Work and Development Media – Investing in the Power of Artificial Intelligence,” will take place in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) from October 22 to 23 at Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center. He noted that the event coincides with Gulf Red Crescent Day, observed annually on October 23, and will bring together an elite group of experts and specialists from the GCC and beyond, along with representatives of international humanitarian organizations.

Al-Mughamis said the conference reflects the society’s commitment to keeping pace with modern technological developments and using artificial intelligence to support humanitarian work and development media. The event aims to explore how AI can enhance relief and humanitarian programs. The conference agenda features several main sessions covering topics such as the use of AI in collecting and analyzing humanitarian data, early prediction and rapid response mechanisms, data challenges in relief operations, and the ethical and legal aspects of AI use in humanitarian settings.

Sessions will also examine AI applications in relief operations and highlight the experiences of Gulf national societies in the field, in addition to reviewing initiatives that use these technologies in health, environmental and social awareness campaigns. Al-Mughamis added that the conference will also witness the launch of a Gulf digital initiative, as well as a regional workshop to train media professionals in the humanitarian and relief sectors. The workshop will address crisis media coverage, field reporting skills, occupational safety, media ethics, and the production and documentation of digital humanitarian content.— KUNA

Latest News

Kuwait Embassy joins 61st Diplomatic Corps Charity Bazaar in Jordan

Published

1 hour ago

October 18, 2025

admin

AMMAN: The Kuwaiti Embassy in Jordan participated in the 61st annual International Diplomatic Corps Charity Bazaar, organized by the Jordanian Um Al Hussein Charity Association in cooperation with accredited diplomatic missions and under the supervision of the Jordanian Foreign Ministry. Kuwaiti Ambassador to Jordan Hamad Al-Marri told KUNA that the Embassy’s participation reflects Kuwait’s continued commitment to supporting humanitarian and charitable initiatives and promoting social solidarity with the most vulnerable segments of society.

He added that the bazaar highlights cooperation and cultural exchange between nations and provides a unique opportunity to experience the heritage and civilizational diversity of participating countries. Al-Marri emphasized that Kuwaiti embassies worldwide, under the directives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are always keen to participate in events that combine humanitarian work with cultural engagement.

He noted that the patronage of Princess Basma bint Talal underscores Jordan’s steadfast commitment to charitable work and reflects the shared values between the two brotherly countries in supporting and empowering humanity. “The noble efforts of the Um Al Hussein Charity to care for children and provide them with a safe and supportive environment is an inspiring model of humanitarian work that we in Kuwait are keen to support and enhance,” he said. During the event, Ambassador Al-Marri and members of the Kuwaiti Embassy presented an honorary shield to Princess Basma in recognition of her patronage of the bazaar and her ongoing contributions to the Um Al Hussein Charity.

The Kuwaiti pavilion attracted wide public attention, with visitors admiring the range of exhibits showcasing authentic Kuwaiti heritage, local handicrafts, and traditional foods. The Diplomatic Corps Charity Bazaar is among Amman’s most prominent annual events, combining humanitarian and cultural dimensions. Proceeds support the Um Al Hussein Charity, affiliated with the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, which provides care and a safe environment for orphaned children. – KUNA

Latest News

IWG and diplomats join TSCK for environmental initiative

Published

2 hours ago

October 18, 2025

admin

KUWAIT: Members of the International Women’s Group (IWG) in Kuwait, alongside distinguished members of the diplomatic corps, gathered at The Scientific Center Kuwait (TSCK) on Monday for a special event dedicated to environmental stewardship and community beautification. The initiative was held in collaboration with TSCK and with the gracious support of Dr Ameera Al-Hassan, UN-Habitat Kuwait Country Program Head for the GCC, and Mohamad Alsanosi, Deputy General Manager for Visitors Engagement and Spokesperson TSCK, highlighting a shared commitment to sustainability in Kuwait.

The day’s program was a blend of education and hands-on action. Participants enjoyed guided tours of the center’s facilities, an insightful environmental awareness session, and immersive 3D films in the IMAX cinema titled “Human Body” and “the Wonderful World of Butterflies. The event also included a symbolic gesture of recycling plastic, reinforcing the day’s green message. The highlight of the day was the flower planting ceremony held near the main entrance. – featuring petunia, vincirusa and geranium saplings. Lady Ambassadors, Spouses of Ambassadors, and IWG members worked together to plant vibrant petunic, vencurosa and geranium saplings, adding a touch of lasting color to the landscape.

To commemorate the day, attendees were presented with takeaway souvenirs and their own saplings to continue the greening efforts at home. In her closing remarks, Marika Kochlamazashvili, President of IWG and Spouse of the Ambassador of Georgia, expressed her profound gratitude to the organizers. She emphasized the joy of IWG contributing to Kuwait’s environmental goals and shared her hope of returning next year to see the flowers in full bloom, a sentiment that captures the event’s forward-looking spirit.