Bringing together students from different schools to nurture creative thinking and innovation, a new Saturday Club concept will be launched this month in Dubai.
Taking inspiration from the UK's National Art and Design Saturday Club, Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in partnership with the Dubai Design and Fashion Council, Dubai Design District (d3) and Dubai Creative Clusters Authority will implement a Dubai version.
Dubai Saturday Club will offer young people aged 13 to 16 the opportunity to focus on themed topics twice a month on Saturdays over the next three months.
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of KHDA Dr Abdulla Al Karam, said: "To keep making progress in education, we have to come up with creative ideas and innovative solutions where we inspire school students to think outside the box and work collaboratively. Students will find real-life solutions by showcasing their innovation and creativity at the Saturday Club."
With students from 183 nationalities studying in Dubai, the initiative will help unite students, social entrepreneurs and inspirational speakers while providing them with a platform to speak, share and learn from each other.
Themed workshops and master classes will be hosted for students across four tracks, which include wellbeing, creativity and design, entrepreneurship and technology.
Students would select their theme and use the skills and knowledge to design a product or service, which would help solve problems in the future. Hind Al Mualla, Chief of Creativity, Happiness and Innovation (CHI) at KHDA said: "One of the strengths of the Saturday Club is that it helps students to get away from their usual school routine and meet students from other schools. It values them and gives them an insight into a world of work."
Explaining the idea further, Hind Al Mualla said: "We want to nurture young people's talent, build self-esteem and show them pathways and careers in the creative industries. This is a new range of careers they would not necessarily have thought of."
Global research evidences the direct correlation of happiness to increased academic performance and future well-being in adult life.
How to participate in Saturday Club for students?
Entry to the Saturday Club is free of cost and the first event will take place on March 5. It will encourage students from different backgrounds to engage in doing something for good together.
For more information about the Saturday Club, contact 800 KHDA or write to info@khda.gov.ae
Dhanusha Gokulan/Dubai