JEDDAH, 23 July 2007 — The King Abdul Aziz and His Companions Foundation for the Gifted (KACFG) is planning to establish a new program to support gifted people throughout their lives instead of just offering partial support.
Khaled Al-Sabti, secretary-general of KACFG, said the foundation was pursuing a number of plans and programs to support the gifted through several local and international programs over the next 12 years.
Al-Sabti was speaking during the final day of a one-month program teaching electronics and robotics to gifted youth from across the Kingdom. The program was organized by KACFG and was held at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah.
Ibrahim Alawi, organizer of the program, said that 41 elementary and secondary school students participated in the event. The students were selected by KACFG, which also covered all of their expenses.
Alawi said under this program students learned how to work with electronics and how to make robots. He added that even though the program was of 13-hour duration daily, students were eager and happy to learn.
The program, which included an intensive English language course, also taught participants the importance of work ethics and the appreciation of teamwork. Participants were also taught how to construct basic robots.
“This program is one of 16 that have been organized by the foundation for both boys and girls from around the country. At the end of the event, students organized a Sumo wrestling match and a soccer match with the robots that they built during the program,” said Alawi.