Since the start of Expo 2020 Dubai, young students from various UAE schools have been
participating in playful hands-on Kide Science workshops at the Dubai Cares Pavilion
located in the Opportunity District that is being hosted under the theme “The Future is
Human”.
Dubai Cares is a UAE-based global philanthropic organization that is playing a key role in
helping achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which aims to ensure
inclusive and equitable quality education for children and youth and to promote lifelong
learning by 2030. To date, Dubai Cares’ educational programs have reached over 20 million
beneficiaries in 60 developing countries.
The adaptation of Kide Science’s lesson plans for the six-month-long workshops was funded
by Dubai Cares based on its work towards improving children’s access to quality education.
The Kide Science team in Finland leveraged its research-backed pedagogical approach to
develop the content while Upiopi has organized and led the workshops at the pavilion on
behalf of Dubai Cares.
Dubai Cares’ offers visitors an immersive and engaging experience at the pavilion, and
explores how we are preparing ourselves and future generations for life-changing
disruptions. One of the aims of this workshop is to enhance children’s awareness about what
makes schools the ideal place for learning, developing social well-being and discovering the
importance of collaboration.
“One of our main messages at the Dubai Cares Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai is that learning
outside the classroom plays a key role in children’s overall development. The Kide Science
workshops enable us to emphasize the fact that learning should be fun and enjoyable. The
interactive format of these workshops allow students to work in a collaborative manner while
the content enhances their awareness of the importance of education. The learning
outcomes are being deeply appreciated by teachers and we thank Kide Science for their
support and collaboration,” said Mada AlSuwaidi, Chief of Staff, Dubai Cares Pavilion at
Expo 2020 Dubai.
Every Kide Science lesson starts with a fictitious story and a problem to solve, which
revolves around an earthquake. Children are encouraged to think through what is most
valuable to them while rebuilding the school for those affected by the crises. Aligned with
Dubai Cares’ efforts to support education in emergencies, the objective of the lesson is to
ensure that affected children get back to school as soon as possible by leveraging the young
participants’ creative, out-of-the-box thinking and imagination to design a school with hands-
on experiments.
“One of the aims for this cooperation is to encourage children to be active agents of change:
we all have a role to play in solving problems near and far. That is also aligned with our
mission at Kide Science: to generate the next generation of critical thinkers through our high
quality pedagogy. Education is the foundation for development and empowerment for
children and young people around the world, and we are so proud of this cooperation with
such an impactful and global philanthropic organization like Dubai Cares,” said Dr. Jenni
Vartiainen, Founder of Kide Science.
The Dubai Cares Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai is welcoming visitors daily throughout the
length of the mega event until 31 March 2022. To learn more about Dubai Cares, please
visit: www.dubaicares.ae.
About Dubai Cares:
Since its inception in 2007, Dubai Cares, part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global
Initiatives, has been working towards providing children and youth in developing countries
with access to quality education through the design and funding of programs that aim to be
impactful, sustainable and scalable. To date, the UAE-based global philanthropic
organization has successfully launched education programs reaching over 20
million beneficiaries in 60 developing countries.
Dubai Cares plays a key role in helping achieve the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG) 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and quality education for all, and
promote lifelong learning by 2030, by supporting programs in early childhood development,
access to quality primary and secondary education, technical and vocational education and
training for youth as well as a particular focus on education in emergencies and protracted
crises. Moreover, Dubai Cares adopts a strategic approach to improve student enrollment
and learning outcomes through an integrated school health and nutrition model that is made
up of school-based deworming activities, school feeding, and WASH (Water, Sanitation &
Hygiene) in schools.
Dubai Cares is a member of the United Nations Department of Global Communications (UN
DGC), as well as a registered non-government organization under IACAD, the charitable
activities regulator in Dubai. The UAE-based global philanthropic organization is authorized
to raise funds through direct donations and fundraising campaigns, as well as process all
permit approvals with IACAD.
Volunteerism is a powerful tool to Dubai Cares in order to engage people in tackling
development challenges. Dubai Cares rallies the UAE wider community through a large
spectrum of volunteering and awareness initiatives that are linked to its global mandate.
To learn more, please visit www.dubaicares.ae .
About Kide Science:
Kide Science develops young children's scientific thinking skills through engaging hands-on
experiments that solve real science problems. A proven pedagogical method predicts better
learning outcomes in school and is based on years of rigorous academic research
conducted Founder & Researcher Jenni Vartiainen, PhD in the University of Helsinki. Kide
Science’s online platform provides teachers with training and lesson materials to lead playful
STEAM education with storytelling for 3-8 year-olds already in 30 countries. Kide Science is
the official member of Education Finland which is coordinated by the Finnish National
Agency for Education.
For more information visit kidescience.com or contact:
Sari Hurme-Mehtälä, CEO
sari@kidescience.com
+358 445315134
