These kids are set to change the world

'Big things have small beginnings,' as the saying goes, and we should not be surprised that the next big idea that can change the world will come from the little members of our society.

Inspiring children to think big and dream big about the possibility of their ideas is the main reason why a Children's Entrepreneurship Workshop was conducted by The Arcadia Preparatory School at their campus in Jumeirah Village Triangle on Saturday.

Around 70 students, aged 3-11 years old, coming from various schools across Dubai were taught the basics of entrepreneurship by international company '7BillionIdeas' headed by its CEO, David Harkin.

"The objective of this programme is to develop a lifelong passion for learning," Harkin told Khaleej Times.

"There's a study that says 82 per cent of seven-year-old kids already have a strong opinion about themselves; so, why wait until they're 12 or 13 before you get them into entrepreneurial thinking?," he added.

 
The ideas, Harkin added, can come while the kids are having breakfast, sitting by the pool or playing games with friends. "And these ideas can be as simple as what make people laugh or make them healthy - things that will have positive impact on society," he pointed out.

Mufida Digeil, a social studies and Islamic teacher at Arcadia, added: "What is more important is that we allow our children some creative space to inspire their young minds. We will be surprised that they don't actually hold back with their ideas, unlike adults who already have biases."

Regan Haswell, from New Zealand, whose four-year old daughter Charlotte attended the workshop, added: "It is important to widen the learning horizon of our kids. They have curious minds and with proper guidance, they too can make a difference to our society."

The workshop was designed like kids were just playing. With coloured pens in their hands, they were divided into groups of three and were asked to come up with their ideas.

Some suggested mobile swimming pools, shape-shifting vehicles, self-cleaning bathroom, fish tank beds, slipper mops, keyboard music table, smart dancing shoes, and auto spell check pens, among others.

At their young age, some students were also vocal in raising their opinions on social issues like eight-year Kenyan student Arwa who suggested a 'never-ending- food machine' that will end hunger among kids around the world or "a neutralising device for obnoxious politicians like US president-elect Donald Trump."

The kids were also taught teamwork, presentation skills, public speaking, and listening skills by combining idea generation and development.

Navin Valrani, CEO of  Arcadia Preparatory School, said the event on Saturday was  just a first among a series of workshops. "What we will do next is a follow-up on the ideas we generated today. The next workshop will be in April," he said.

"We are thrilled that the response from parents and students for the event has been so positive. The initiative has been implemented for pupils from FS1 and upward and will allow them to dream big about the possibility of their ideas," Valrani added.
Never-ending-food machine

Fighting global hunger is the main objective of eight-year old Arwa in coming up with her idea of a 'never-ending-food machine.'

Originally from Kenya, Arwa said: "I see kids getting hungry so I thought of coming up with a device that when you shake it, voila, food will come out!"

Unlike in the movie 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, where food fall down from the sky, Arwa said her idea is "more like a small food bank."

"And we should have something that will sort out only healthy foods," she added.

Smart car and anti-traffic boredom entertainment

Nine-year old Guillermo from Spain suggested a 'shape-shifting vehicle' to get out of Dubai's heavy rush-hour traffic.

"If there's a traffic on Shaikh Zayed Road and you're stuck in your car but you're near the Dubai Canal, then you can transform your car into a boat so you can move ahead," he said.  

Alternatively, his group mate Mrinal submitted an 'anti-traffic boredom entertainment device.' "When you're caught in the traffic, your parents can just press a button and an educational screen will pop up," he proposed.
Mobile pools and smart toilets

Three to four-year-old kids at Mufida Digeil group suggested the best way for kids to beat the summer heat whilst enjoying a fun outdoor activity: a mobile pool.

Getting ahead of their age and anticipating that nano-technology will be well-developed when they grow up, some even suggested a "pocket mobile pool."

Using cartons, the kids also made a prototype and painted it in various colours.

Another student suggested a more practical approach to good housekeeping:  "I want a self-cleaning bathroom, one that will take the foul odour away automatically," four-year old Jena said.

angel@khaleejtimes.com