The magic of giving back…

If the play space at Fairytales is the creative mind of the business then the community enrichment programme is its beating heart. This place is serious good vibes, we had to share the open-hearted vision of Fatma Al Madani and her business partner Basma Al Fahim. You already know all about the fun imaginative play that the little ones can get up to here, but did you know that Fairytales can also help them learn about gratitude and helping in the community? I’ve already learned a thing or two from my enchanting conversations with the team! This Emirati-duo lead approach is committed to raising a generation of socially minded, caring and grateful kids. During the holiday camps, the team have been busy partnering with local initiatives, such as Enable (a gorgeous initiate run by the Dubai Garden Centre, that trains people with special needs to grow, nurture and create decorative plant arrangements, that are for sale) to bring the special needs community and kids together, to learn from each other and de-stigmatise special needs.

Other awesome collaborations include creating greeting cards and other crafty trinkets to send to kids around the world who need a sprinkle of happiness, in association with the Happy Heart Giving Program, from the founder of The Happy Box. They even run one-off events bringing magic to kids in hospital who don’t have the luxury of going out to play – and are open to collaborating with individuals and companies to reach more kids. Keeping things local, little ones also have the opportunity to discover some of the nuances of Emirati culture, such as: حق الليلة – Hag El Lailah – (translated roughly as ‘for the night’) a pre- Ramadan Emirati tradition, that could best be described as the original ‘trick or treat.’ (Didn’t I tell you that I learned a thing or two!?)

As well as helping others, kids also learn to help themselves in the pop-up ‘Mother and Child Market’ (in collaboration with Eventra), where kids learn how to bring products to market (think baking cakes, selling crafts – some very enterprising youngsters made a fortune with their ‘make-you- own-slime’ stall at the most recent pop-up. Genius!) Fatma and Basma are on hand to encourage and educate and make sure that the balance sheets add up. Stay tuned to Kidzapp to find out about upcoming events…