June 6, 2006
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UAE Minister of Economy Sheikha Lubna was Guest of Honor at the European Children’s Festival

H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates, was ICAF’s Guest of Honor and delivered the keynote address at the First European Festival of Children’s Art & Creativity at the Olympia Park in Munich on 31 May 2006.

Young artists from 34 countries, including the UAE, had collaboratively created a 100-meter long flag-mural at the Festival, flown from the Olympia Park Tower. Sheikha Lubna congratulated the children on painting a most beautiful mural that symbolizes their creativity and imagination, and aspirations for peace. “I know that in the process of painting the mural you have come to know each other’s feelings and have developed friendships that will last forever. The trust that you have developed is the basis on which we can build a peaceful and better world for all,” she said.

“You are no ordinary minister of economy,” said Dr. Ashfaq Ishaq, Executive Director of the International Child Art Foundation, which hosted the Festival. “You are a role model for young girls throughout the Arab and Muslim world. You are an inspiration to young people all over the globe.”

Mrs. Louise T. Blouin MacBain, CEO of the LTG Group Limited and founder of LTB Foundation also gave a keynote address at the event. “It was an inspirational event and one I was proud to be associated with,” she later remarked.

Sheikha Lubna and Mrs. MacBain together visited the children’s art gallery of ICAF eV while they were in Munich. The gallery is currently exhibiting artworks made by blind children. “This is an open opening experience for me,” Sheikha Lubna remarked.