DUBAI // A weekend club where children can learn artistic and entrepreneurial skills proved such a hit that applications for the second season are already pouring in.
The pilot season of the Dubai Saturday Club this year provided 100 pupils from 40 schools with extra tuition during the three-month programme.
Abdullah Al Karam, director general of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, said after the huge success of the initial project the regulator was aiming for a more focused scheme this time.
“We had set a limit of 100 children and the numbers got booked very quickly,” he said.
“But we discovered that 100 was too high, so this time we will have 50 pupils.”
Last year there were six sessions, held every second Saturday for three months; this time round that will increase to eight spread over four months.
“The club provides learning outside the classroom and away from the traditional method of teachers telling students what to do,” Dr Al Karam said.
“We were keen for there to be a wide variety of students from different backgrounds because we felt it was important for children to develop and build networks and friendships with peers they would perhaps not normally get in contact with.”
Isabella Monlangit, 14, from The Philippine School in Dubai, took part in the first Saturday Club earlier this year.
“I was inspired to take part by the vice principal of our school who said the KHDA were looking for artistic-minded students to take part in a Saturday club,” she said.
“I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and do more with my Saturdays than homework, so I decided to take part and it was a fantastic experience.
“I met and talked with teenagers from other schools I would never normally get the chance to interact with.”
As well as learning more about the creative process, club members were also mentored on business skills.
“It was great to get knowledge from entrepreneurs who helped us understand the world of business and the skills needed to succeed in it,” she said.
Saeed Al Nabouda, acting director general of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, was delighted at the success of the first Saturday Club.
“We know from studies that the need for people to be creative in the workforce is going to be very important in the coming years,” he said.
“By getting pupils into contact with professionals who are creative so that they understand the process of turning an idea into reality is very important.”
Mohammed Al Shehhi, chief operating officer of Dubai Design District, which helped to support the first season, said it would continue to do so.
“We see this as a win-win situation, not only for the students but also the designers and creative professionals who take part and share their expertise,” he said.
Hind Al Mualla, chief of creativity, happiness and innovation at KHDA, said the club was open to 12 to 15-year-olds in Dubai.
“Once they send in the applications we will take a look at them and then decide who the best candidates are,” she said.
The Saturday Club was inspired by the UK’s National Art and Design Saturday Club.
The sessions will be held on two Saturdays a month next February, March, April and May.
Each session will be delivered by community mentors working in creativity and design; entrepreneurship; technology; and wellbeing.
The programme concludes with pupils inventing or creating a prototype of a product or service that will benefit all.
Pupils interested in taking part should visit www.dubaisaturdayclubs.ae
nhanif@thenational.ae