Kids, your ideas are welcome

Dubai - The initiative is part of a new collaboration between the UAE and US-based global design firm IDEO. Palmwood has teamed up with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, asking tweens how they can improve society.

The UAE children are encouraged to propose ideas on how they can improve society through innovative means. 
The initiative is part of a new collaboration between the UAE and US-based global design firm IDEO. The project is called Palmwood and will be at Area2071, the hub for futuristic technologies in line with the UAE Centennial Plan 2071. Palmwood has teamed up with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, asking tweens how they can improve society.
Last summer, Palmwood held a summer camp where children aged between nine to 14 built innovative project ideas to combat the world's many challenges.
Mthayel, 13, for example, designed a home built entirely out of recycled materials, making home-ownership more environmentally friendly and less expensive.
Basma,14, imagined a three-part rocket that was part of a mission to take people from different parts of society to colonise Saturn.
"I've learned that kids my age think differently - they see the future in so many different ways," she said.
Meanwhile, Basil, 11, designed an affordable housing community with low-cost materials while maintaining dignified and desirable home options for those in need.
Ras Al Khaimah-based student Drishya Rajesh said she's also interested in generating ideas for projects that can benefit society. She has the idea of a robot in mind, which can help keep planet Earth clean.
"Keeping a place clean is the best way to thank our Mother Earth. So, special kinds of robots who can be called WASTE SQUAD, can be assigned to any particular area," she said. "They should be able to sense or detect any unattended waste in their area. If anyone litters the surrounding of the area the robot will give out an alert message 'do not litter' and if the doer doesn't pay attention, a fine will be imposed. If this idea becomes a reality, any person will not knowingly or unknowingly litter the city."
Another student, Sreelakshmi V, believes reusing recycled objects to build the community can help the planet. "I think a park with recycled or reused objects with plastics and paper for children will be an ideal one, which will help them and their parents to think about alternatives and proper uses of plastic and paper and to save our environment by not throwing such things into the garbage," she said. "We can make beautiful tables, chairs, coffee tables, door curtains, wall hangings, decorative items, dolls, toys, floor tiles, pens, pencils - the list do not have an end."
Palmwood aims to work with partners dedicated to generosity, curiosity, and creativity to improve lives in the UAE and beyond. Initially, it will operate as a design consultancy, working on a pipeline of projects out of their new headquarters inside the Emirates Towers, Area 2071. 
Palmwood will be working with organisations across sectors to design learning experiences, schools, and systems that ignite curiosity, creativity and generosity across generations. It also aims to empower businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs across the UAE to help build the creative economy of the future.
The project also includes working closely with the over 60s population in the UAE. They've been having workshops with them to design services and visiting their homes to understand their challenges. They are working with the over 60s directly to pilot initiatives and understand what they think about them.
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com
 

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