Lapis, Papel Atbp - donate school materials for poor schoolchildren

The University of the Philippines Alumni Association in the UAE (UPAA-UAE) is relaunching the Lapis, Papel Atbp (Pencil, Paper and More) project to help schoolchildren in the Philippines get the basic requirements to study.

If you have books, paper, pens, pencil, notebooks slippers, shoes or even old computer equipment that you would like to donate, please contact +971 50 426 7879 or email help.scholar@gmail.com. 
 

Watani expands Summer Camp profile

The popular Summer Camp programme of Watani, the UAE’s unique celebration of national identity, is back again with an action-packed calendar offering greater opportunities for children to learn new skills and re-discover themselves in an atmosphere of fun and creativity.

Over 420 children aged seven to 12 are expected to attend the camps, which will be held from June 19 to July 8 in Dubai and from July 11 to July 21 in Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah, under the title ‘United in creativity and knowledge,' reflecting one of the key pillars of Vision 2021, which aims to make the UAE among the best nations in the world by year 2021.

An exciting array of events will keep children active and occupied at the camp while also bringing them closer to their roots and heritage, and encouraging them to venture out beyond classroom learning. Field trips and sessions organised as part of the camp will enable participants to learn more about their living environment as well as the latest advances in science.

His Excellency Ahmed Al Mansoori, Director General of Watani said: "Watani's Summer Camps are an ideal platform to develop and shape responsible, knowledgeable citizens of the future. The Camps not only help children develop their hobbies and interests into meaningful pursuits but also inculcate in them a sense of national pride and identity.  

" Through the Summer Camp, we aim to align the aspirations of children in line with the goals outlined by UAE Vision 2021 and link them to the country's cultural values. These camps are indeed one of the best investments in our future," he added.

Among the highlights of the Camps this year are the “Watani Space” Programme organised in co-operation with Emirates Institution for Science and Advanced Technology, and “Watani Skies”, which will be presented by the Dubai Aviation Academy.  

Field trips to hospitals and training sessions on radiation prevention and healthy diets will also be part of the programme, as strengthening awareness on health is critical to individual and social hygiene. A mechanic workshop will be introduced to provide children with essential information on car components and electronics.  

Environment and heritage as well as prudent use of resources will also be a major theme of the Camp this year. Students will be taken on trips to Masdar, ADNOC, Jumeirah Beach Park and the Dubai Dolphinarium to enable them understand the importance of these issues and the priority being accorded to them by the UAE as part of its commitment to sustainable development.

About Watani:

Watani Program was launched on December 2, 2005 under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to promote the UAE's national identity and practices of good citizenship within the UAE's diverse and multicultural society. The program organizes and implements various educational, entertainment, and media activities that are directed to the youth, women and children. The activities and campaigns organized by Watani are carried out by a number of volunteers and public interest advocates in the UAE. 

Summer camp for kids at DLC

Dubai Ladies Club, a member of Dubai Women Establishment, today announced the dates for its annual Kids Summer Camp. Each batch will run for two weeks and will bring together three renowned names – Kidzart, Mad Science & Playball – that have designed a summer program that will immerse students in a wide range of extra curricular events so that they spend their time effectively while learning something.

Now in its sixth season, the Kids Summer Camp, which is held at The Art Centre in Dubai Ladies Club, has become hugely popular as a place where children can develop new interests, gain exposure, choose a new direction, and make lifelong friends. The camp is open to boys and girls between 6 – 11 years.

Maryam Al Ghurair, Art Centre Executive at Dubai Ladies Club said, “This year’s program will target three fields - Arts, Sciences and Sports – with structured training and exercise that are designed to be not only fun but also to further develop their social, physical, intellectual and artistic abilities.”

Enrolment for the Summer Camp is now open. The first batch will begin from 4 July until 15 July, 2010. The second batch will commence on 18 July until 29 July, 2010. While the third and final batch will commence on 1 August until 12 August, 2010. Camp activities will be conducted from Sunday through Thursday, 9:00am-12:00pm. Fees for the two-week summer camp is AED700 per child for Dubai Ladies Club members and AED750 per child for non-members.

To register and to make an enquiry please contact our Customer Service Representatives at The Art Centre in Dubai Ladies Club by calling +971 4 349 9922 or email artcentre@dubailadiesclub.com.

ENOC holds painting contest to raise awareness about the Environment

Children choose to paint with the color green to depict their idea of an ideal and natural environment, at the ENOC booth in Dubai Festival City. The campaign aims to raise awareness on World Environment Day, celebrated, across the world on June 5, through educating people about climate change and key environmental issues. ENOC collaborated with Dubai Silicon Oasis to highlight the importance of preserving and sustaining our environment by inviting children to participate in a drawing competition. Children with the best artwork received gift vouchers.

ENOC also showcased its environmentally-friendly products and services, such as Protec Green and Protec X-treme Energy. It also explained to passersby how the Waterless Carwash service functions and displayed images of the ENOC Green Station, set to open by the end of 2010.

Art Camp for children this summer at The Farjam Collection

The Farjam Collection @ DIFC announces the first year of Art Camp - a summer programme of art and activities for children.  The first summer camp of its kind in the UAE, Art Camp gives children the opportunity to explore their creative talent while learning from some of the finest works of art from the past.  Surrounded by a range of outstanding and rare works including calligraphy, paintings, ceramics, textiles, jewellery and arms, children will spend their summer exploring the fascinating world of Islamic art through worksheets, games and hands-on craft activities. 

The Farjam Collection is partnering with Zayed University to curate an exhibition of Islamic art which will run throughout the summer in tandem with Art Camp. The exhibition will lead on from the first exhibition of highlights at The Farjam Collection @ DIFC, showcasing a different selection of works from Dr Farjam’s remarkable private collection.  Students from Zayed University will coordinate the exhibition under the supervision of Islamic art expert and Associate Professor Dr. Ron Hawker, and the guiding hand of staff from The Farjam Collection. “The Farjam Collection represents a wonderful opportunity for students to work closely with a wide range of stunningly beautiful and historically important objects. The students from Zayed University are relishing the chance to apply their design skills to this context,” says Ron Hawker. 

Art Camp is supported by students from three prestigious academic institutions based in the UK – the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Durham.  Students from Oxford and Cambridge will be involved in producing content and activities for Art Camp based on the art on view.  Drawing on their varied specialities in the arts, these students will contribute their ideas for new and engaging art-based activities for children.  Durham University will support the programme by offering research papers written by gifted students to serve as tools in the creation of both exhibition and activity-related content.  “We have been thrilled with the number of very talented students who have applied to be involved with Art Camp this summer,” said Rebecca Jarvest, Collection and Exhibitions Coordinator at The Farjam Collection.  “As a Cambridge graduate and former intern at The Farjam Collection I am delighted that we are building an on-going relationship with these institutions.” 

 “The philosophy for Art Camp is to create, explore, and enjoy”, commented Emilie Faure, Collection and Exhibitions Manager at The Farjam Collection.  “Art Camp gives children the chance to be an artist for the summer, and at the same time allows them to discover art in all its varieties.  We are delighted to be working alongside esteemed local and international institutions to create a unique summer programme that offers something completely new to children in Dubai this summer”.   

The Farjam Collection’s summer Art Camp marks a further step by collector and patron Dr Farhad Farjam to bring world-class art and high quality educational programming to the region. Recipient of the Distinguished Patron of the Arts Award, Dr Farjam is passionate about the importance of education in the arts at all levels, reaching out to a wide audience on a national and international level through The Farjam Collection space at DIFC.  The Farjam Collection @ DIFC offers a range of educational programmes, free and open to the public, from its popular First Wednesdays series and School and University Programmes to Art Nights @ Gate Village in collaboration with the DIFC and the latest addition to its programming, Art Camp. 

Art Camp Details

What?  Worksheets, games and hands-on craft activities around the fascinating world of art

Who?  Children ages 6 – 12, organized into two age groups: 6 – 9 years and 9 – 12 years When? Art Camp runs for four weeks, from 18 July to 12 August.  Children can participate in any one, two, three or four weeks.  Sessions run from Sunday – Thursday from 8am – 2pm. 

Where? The Farjam Collection @ DIFC 

Fee  500 AED per child per week, including all craft materials and activities 

For further information and booking please visit our website or contact rebecca@farjamcollection.com 
 

Notes to editors

The Farjam Collection @ DIFC
      
The Farjam Collection @ DIFC showcases a rotating series of exhibitions drawn from The Farjam Collection. The foremost ambition of The Farjam Collection @ DIFC is art education.  A programme of educational events, free and open to the public, offers audiences the opportunity to learn more about the works on view and the context in which these were produced.  

The Farjam Collection is open: Sunday to Thursday, 10 am to 8 pm; Saturday 12 pm to 8 pm. Please visit www.farjamcollection.com for updates on events at The Farjam Collection @ DIFC. 

The Farjam Collection @ DIFC is generously supported by the Hafiz Foundation.

The Hafiz Foundation
The Hafiz Foundation was founded in 2008 to support outstanding initiatives within the visual arts, with a special emphasis on the greater Middle East. With the city of Dubai as its base, the Foundation aims to become a centre for production, preservation, and promotion of the arts at large. At the heart of the Foundation’s goals is the development of educational opportunities for young Middle Eastern artists, students, scholars, curators, and art enthusiasts.
As a partner to both local and international cultural initiatives, the Foundation’s recent activities include having supported the founding of the award-winning Middle Eastern arts magazine Bidoun,  support for local arts education programs, as well as the organization of a series of exhibitions displaying selected works from the Farjam Collection.

Distinguished Patron of the Arts 

Owner of The Farjam Collection and founder of The Farjam Collection @ DIFC Dr Farhad Farjam received the Distinguished Patron of the Arts Award in March 2010 for his outstanding contribution to patronage in the region.