Fares Ibraheem Al-Khulaifi, a young intermediate school student, is considered the youngest Saudi inventor. Standing in front of this child, one feels as if he is standing infront of a man in his forties. He talked about his talent saying, “When I was three, I loved any electronic equipment that came into my hands. I used to take them apart and move some parts to other equipment. I always had questions in my head that needed answers. I tried to show my talent to my teachers but their replies were all frustrating. I still remember the answer of one of my teachers when I talked about my dreams and inventions. He told me to focus only on my studies and leave the nonsense aside. The only one that stood next to me was my mother who supported my dreams.”
His parents transferred him to another school only to face the same problems. He said, “I have to admit that some teachers were sympathetic with me but they did not help me in any way. I almost gave up on talent but my mother refused to give up and she contacted the department for talented students at the ministry of education. The department sent someone to test me and when I passed the test, and I became the youngest Saudi inventor to be a member of the the King Abdul Aziz and His Companions Foundation.”
Once in the foundation, he received offers from many private school to join their student bodies but he refused all of them until Kingdom Schools contacted him through Prince Al-Waleed ibn Talal. He said, “In the Kingdom Schools I felt different. Everybody was supportive and they loved my ideas for inventions. I felt much more support in Kingdom Schools than what I had experienced in government schools. I presented the idea for a special phone for the handicapped. The phone is like two phones in one with special colored buttons so it is easy for the elderly to remember. The phone does not need a receiver. It is supported by a speaker device that identifies the caller and offers many other features besides.”
Fares participated in the third meeting of Saudi inventors at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah. The meeting was attended by investors from all over the Arab world. Fares took third place out of 55 inventors. King Abdullah ibn Abdul Aziz wrote to Fares saying; “You may not know, my child, how happy I am for your achievement while so young in inventing a phone for the handicapped and for the elderly. This is the sign of a promising future for you.” Fares said, “I cannot describe my feelings. I did not expect such a letter to come to me. It is a Legion of Honor on my chest.”
When in the fourth grade, Fares wrote a book about educational ideas, with tips from teachers as well as scientific and educational information. Fares’s father printed and distribute the book at his expense. Currently, Fares is writing a book about the role of a mother in nurturing children. The book is in appreciation for his mother’s role in his life. He said, “If it were not for my mother, I would not be where I am now.” Fares dreams of becoming a military doctor, saying that being a military doctor is a way to serve society.