THE pilot for a television program mixing education and fun was taped recently at Manarat International School in the Eastern Province.
“Students’ Fun Zone” is the name of the program and the organization producing it. The group is committed to improving communication skills for school-going children of all age levels. The program’s objective is to encourage all participants to improve their public speaking, thinking, listening, dialogue and presentation skills and talents.
For the pilot, students from Manarat competed against teams from Dhahran Academy High School, Dhahran Ahliyya, the British School, Indian International School-Dammam and the International Programs School in events called Radio Rabbits, Queen of Sound, Amazing Advertisements, Save the Animals, Talent Zone and the Quiz Zone.
For the pilot program, students were given time, from a week to a month, to prepare for the various contests. Before the program goes into production, television directors in Riyadh will review the pilot.
If approved, production would likely begin during the fall. The driving force behind the concept has been educator Hanan El-Gibaly. She serves as the program’s presenter and has started an organization so that schools throughout the Eastern Province may field teams for the competitions.
El-Gibaly works as student affairs and public relations coordinator at Alkhobar’s Halley Academy, formerly the Abunohaya International School (AIS). She said the pilot never would have been made without the support of area academics, parents and the talented students of participating schools.
“I am hoping for this pilot to succeed in order to create a continuous weekly TV program for our students to encourage them to enjoy improving their public speaking, thinking, listening, communication skills and their talents,” El-Gibaly told Arab News.
She originally got the idea for the program while working as an announcer for the Dammam Radio Station banking on her experiences as student affairs manager at Mohamed Al-Mana College for Health Sciences. She initially envisioned a radio program but it shifted to a television program after she met director Abdel Raauf Al-Khulaitit during an event at the British Council. She invited him in March to a speech contest she organized at International Schools Group-Dammam.
“He really liked it. I then told him that my dream was to turn Students’ Fun Zone into a TV program. He supported me and asked me to organize a pilot.” Although she is extremely grateful to many area school administrators for their enthusiastic support, she has special thanks for Manarat International Boys’ School Principal Dr. Salah Hassan Sheikh Idris.
“After I had sent Dr. Hassan an invitation to participate in Students’ Fun Zone’s first speech contest sometime back, he requested a meeting with me, so I met with him,” said El-Gibaly. “He said, ‘Your vision is a dream. You can use our large auditorium. We will support you all the way,’ and he did. When I asked Dr. Hassan if we could have the pilot program at Manarat, he readily agreed. ‘Sure, as long as you continue on a weekly basis. I will always support you and your objective’.”
Parents of students who took part in the pilot program also expressed enthusiasm. Hazem Fawzi and Safaa Ebrahim, parents of Hana, a second-grader at International Schools Group-Dammam, are impressed. “Our daughter Hana participated in this multi-school competition with a humorous and a wonderful story by the title of ‘Tikky Tikky Tembo.’ After participating in Students’ Fun Zone contest, we have noticed several good changes in Hana and many beneficial points, too, like the courage of speech in front of a wide audience and in different schools, as well,” said Fawzi.
“She also gained confidence and self esteem. Finally, we noticed that she has developed an excitement to win competitions and prizes which made all of us proud of her,” Ebrahim said. El-Gibaly said she hopes the television directors are as enthusiastic as the participants and the Eastern Province academic society are.
“I will inform all schools to get prepared for our second episode in October 2009,” El-Gibaly said. “I am looking forward to including more schools and implementing even more new exciting ideas. Then we will have our Students’ Fun Zone television program on a weekly basis.”
School activities coordinators in the Eastern Province interested in participating can get additional information by calling El-Gibaly at 03-8653040 or sending an e-mail to [email protected].
