In reiterating its commitment to promoting a culture of scientific thinking and problem solving within a knowledge-based economy, Khimji Ramdas (KR) Eshraqa’s Stemazone initiative is hosting a booth at the Muscat International Book Fair 2022. Organised under the patronage of HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Fair will take place from 24th February to 5th March 2022, at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC).
Established by Eshraqa, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Khimji Ramdas, Stemazone is a sustainable educational programme that has been conceptualised in partnership with the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Culture, Sports and Youth (MOCSY) to introduce Omani children, between 6 to 16 years, to the marvelous world of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM).
As a farsighted educational initiative that aims to do its bit towards achieving Oman’s Vision 2040 by creating a workforce of competent and knowledgeable citizens, Stemazone is providing convenient access to activities and information surrounding its programmes to Omani students through its interactive pavilion – 1K1 and 1K2 (opposite the kids arena) – at the exhibition area of the Fair. Stemazone will also be organising a number of activities, including a workshop each on Coding and Robotics for children attending the Fair.
Commenting on Stemazone’s commitment to inculcate a scientific bent of mind among children in communities and schools across the Sultanate, Mr. Nailesh Khimji, Director – Khimji Ramdas averred, “Muscat International Book Fair is one of the largest cultural events in the Sultanate. First held in 1992, it is among the top ten book fairs in the Arab world. Stemazone’s participation in it is hence inevitable, and is yet another step towards making our programmes more accessible for children, who can enjoy the convenience of visiting our stall, as well as attend workshops held alongside the Book Fair. Through initiatives such as Stemazone, and through our participation in cultural events of this nature, we are hoping to build a generation of avid readers, thinkers and problem solvers that excel in their future careers.”
Stemazone offers a hybrid learning experience through ta physical centre located at the Children’s Museum and a state-of-art online learning system available at www.stemazoneoman.om
Both experiences offer engaging and interactive sessions of creativity for kids. The programmes are designed in a manner such that they focus on developing children’s skills and knowledge in coding, electronics, 3D design, IoT, smart cities, and design thinking. The sessions also aim at building confidence, teaching public speaking and imbibing leadership, teamwork, and collaboration skills.
Stemazone workshops offer an ideal platform for students to understand the analytics of problem-solving, collaborating, testing ideas, and creating inspirational work; these workshops help them to think critically and creatively, and foster an element of curiosity in them.
Eshraqa has been established on the premise that the private sector has a responsibility towards the development of local communities and towards empowering talented individuals in the Sultanate. By
working towards nation-building at the grassroots, Eshraqa aspires to contribute towards the education sector by building infrastructure that will lead to the enhancement of knowledge, skills, and capabilities.