Emirati artist organizes creative workshops in juvenile centers in UAE to help teenagers find their passion and gain confidence towards a better tomorrow.

“We reap what we sow” is Sheikha Al Naqbi’s life motto that prompted her to plant beauty and hope behind bars.

Al Naqbi utilized her talent as an artist to organize art, theatre and photography workshops to help teenagers, aged 11-18, in juvenile centers in Sharjah and Fujairah discover their talents and direct their energy to positive means.

Believing that the future starts with the young generation, Al Naqbi stressed directing juveniles away from crime through helping them build their characters and improve their skills to return to community life.

Giving juveniles the opportunity to express themselves through art helps them regain confidence in themselves and society and find their passion to add value to their society in academia or the workplace.

Al Naqbi aimed to share the change that art brought into her life with others. Her focus on juveniles stems from her belief that art and innovation will save them from further despair and pessimism.

After years of working, Al Naqbi was delighted to see the positive change in teenagers’ personalities. “Many of them regained hope that a better life waits for them outside the juveniles center. This change gives me hope and pride that we can change people’s lives to the better by just sharing our passion.”

Al Naqbi aims to train other artists to expand her efforts in the community. She believes that spreading hope and positivity among this segment of the society will build a better future for all because a society’s development starts with empowering its youth.