(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Doha: Qatar Foundation Research, Development and Innovation (QF RDI) has awarded its prestigious Innovation Coupon grant to a unique Qatar-based edutainment project aimed at introducing children both in the country and internationally to the history and traditions of Qatar, and those of the Arab world.
Dew Land Productions is the brainchild of entrepreneur Nada Al Musleh, the company's Founder and Chief Executive Officer. The grant will enable Al Musleh to expand Dew Land Productions, which aims to both educate and entertain children aged 7 to 10 using stories about various topics which emphasize Qatar's identity, heritage, and culture, as well as the Arab world's values, morals, and principles, all communicated via 3D Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) animations.
It was the first episode which initially caught QF RDI's attention. The 10-minute-long film, Oh Yamal, features Dew Land's marque characters Joud wa Soud, and highlights pearl diving as one of the most important enterprises in Qatar's history, something young children today may know little about. Although originally created in Arabic, an English dialogue version of the episode has also been produced to introduce the topic to non-Arabic speaking children both locally and abroad.
“Oh Yamal is an important milestone for our startup, as we consider it a pilot that is helping us to produce a series of upcoming episodes on diverse topics that we believe need attention and must be highlighted in children's media. Although pearl diving is no longer a thriving industry in Qatar, it was important for our ancestors and one of the primary sources of income before the discovery of oil. Oh Yamal helps to instill this heritage in the hearts of children, as this part of our history deserves to remain alive for generations to come,” said Al Musleh.
Al Musleh also believes her company will help to address a gap in the market which will be beneficial for the country moving forward. She said,“Our research findings show that many Qatari children are not aware of the meanings of simple, yet important aspects of our heritage they should be aware and proud of. This demonstrates the need for creative content other than school textbooks to help children visualize certain concepts and practices. The interviews and surveys we've conducted with educators, parents and educational experts have confirmed this clear gap in the market. We are utilizing our characters to highlight any topic in a fun way that engages children and widens their perceptions.”
Expressing her gratitude for the Innovation Coupon, Al Musleh said,“It's a great program to help local talent and young Qatari entrepreneurs. The financial support motivates entrepreneurs to pursue their ideas, develop a prototype and test it in the market. The Innovation Coupon is highly beneficial as it provides not just funding, but also guidance, mentorship, and encouragement from experts within the QF RDI team. The team helped me to focus on my value proposition and allowed me to get a better understanding of how to progress with my project.”
As an Innovation Coupon recipient, Dew Land benefits from being connected with other entities that are part of the QF RDI ecosystem. Just recently, the startup produced a short film for Qatar Genome Programme – part of QF RDI – highlighting that the ecosystem is built to support early-stage startups and Qatari entrepreneurs.
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