As part of the fourth edition of the Al Faraj Festival, held last weekend at Mushrif National Park, the 'Furjan Dubai' organization launched the 'Little Furjan Trader' initiative, featuring 62 children who presented 33 projects. The initiative is implemented in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktum, Vice President of the UAE, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, to expand programs aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among children and reinforcing the values of cooperation and community cohesion, reflecting Dubai as a cohesive community and one big family. The inclusion of the initiative in the Al Faraj Festival marks the first activity of the 'Little Furjan Trader', which was recently launched under a cooperation agreement between the Dubai Municipality, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, and 'Furjan Dubai'. The organization is responsible for managing the initiative's events with the goal of spreading an entrepreneurial culture among children in various 'furjans' (neighborhoods). The initiative provided participating children with an opportunity to showcase their products and creative ideas to the Al Faraj Festival audience through a hands-on experience that enabled them to manage their small projects independently, from displaying and promoting products to interacting directly with visitors and handling sales. The projects ranged from homemade food and handmade crafts to accessories and artistic products, reflecting the children's level of creativity and enthusiasm, and how much they benefited from the supportive environment the initiative offered to hone their entrepreneurial skills. The initiative also saw significant engagement from families who were keen to support and encourage their children, reflecting the spirit of a single 'furjan', strengthening the concept of good neighborly relations, enhancing social bonds, and highlighting the role of residential areas as an incubator for discovering and nurturing emerging talents in a safe and motivating environment. Aliya Shammal, Director of 'Furjan Dubai', stated that the 'Little Furjan Trader' initiative translates the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktum to prepare a new generation equipped with future-ready tools and capable of turning their ideas into real projects that contribute to community and national economic development. She added that the organization is committed to providing a safe and stimulating environment through this initiative, enabling children to undergo a comprehensive entrepreneurial experience where they learn the fundamentals of planning, marketing, and public engagement, thereby boosting their self-confidence and fostering a spirit of initiative and self-reliance from an early age. Aliya Shammal also noted that 'Furjan Dubai' will continue to work with its strategic partners to expand the initiative's reach to cover various residential areas across the emirate, which will help embed entrepreneurship as a firm social value and enhance the readiness of future generations to tackle labor market challenges and build their own ventures with confidence and competence. The participating children expressed their happiness with the opportunity granted by 'Furjan Dubai', confirming that the experience helped them present their ideas to the public, gain new practical skills, and apply their creativity in real life.
