An Egyptian Initiative Connecting Arab Kids With Culture, Knowledge And Each Other

Creating locally and globally inspired educational products and spaces that facilitate critical thinking, self-expression and self-learning. Generating first hand content and design into creative play formats such as board games for home use, facilitating group sessions and gamified school curriculums to raise the knowledge of children about various in their native language Arabic. Weladna is an Egyptian initiative aiming at creating products that stimulate our kids’ minds and hearts.

Reaching the semi-finals of MIT Arab competition, we sat and had the following talk with Fatma Azmy, the co-founder of Weladna:

What inspired you to create Weladna?
My daughter was the main inspiration. Trying to answer her questions and fill her curiosity, I found a complete absence of information and tools for children. Everything was either too superficial or not culturally relevant. So my daughter helped me realize this huge gap and how “Weladna” can fill it.

In 5 years what change would you like Weladna to have had on the Arab World?
Weladna would be the connector. Kids that are geographically and socially disconnected will be connected through the content and game play of Weladna’s products bringing them together through knowing each other and more about each other’s lives.

What skills do you have that will help you get over difficult times in growing your business?
First we have the passion which is the main fire moving us ahead. Second we have great team that is able to think unconventionally and critically with diversified talents. With such a team and such passion and love anything could be overcome.

If money was no object, what would you do with Weladna in the coming year?
Weladna would continue to build its power team and would venture into the digital world creating applications for its bestselling games. Our plan is to also develop 2 regionally relevant products and start being present in other parts of the Arab world as well.

Name three individuals and three organizations you would love to work with in the Arab World:
Dyar of Palestine:  We would love to create products showing the human and artistic side of Palestinian children- we have talked about it yet would love to see it happen.
Visualizing Palestine: We would love to cooperate and investigate the power of info graphs as a tool of educating children.
The little engineer: content sharing in creating a product to their workshops.

For more information: Visit Weladna’s website and like their Facebook page.