The Family Park (FP) offers children, families and educators an incredible collection of educational centers, workshops and activities. Initiated by the Heliopolis Association, the mission of FP is to provide the people of Egypt a facility wherein education and entertainment are blended into one experience: edutainment. The BA Planetarium Science Center (PSC) will be directing three learning centers: the Discovery Center and Five Senses Area-- where children experience firsthand the excitement of scientific research and discovery, the Artistic Workshops Center-- where children will be able to explore the world of art utilizing a variety of artistic mediums, and the Wonders of Technology Center --where children will be able to participate in workshops and experiences that are designed to help them communicate through art and bring their creative ideas to life. Each center features hands-on learning experiences designed for elementary through university-level students.
This project is designed to enable children to relate to both printed and digital information, an essential requirement to cope with the rapid technological leaps of today. The project teaches children that written words can be transformed from digital format to printed format and then to a bound book and vice-versa. A collection of well selected Arabic books for children is published online. Children can find books in various fields including literature, technology, history, geography, religion and science. They will benefit by reading the book on one hand and getting familiar with using computer applications on the other hand. It is like having a library of about 200 books at home .
By organizing lectures and educational courses in the BA, the Calligraphy Center has contributed to fostering dialogue and understanding between Egyptian civilization and others around the world. The Center, in cooperation with the Children’s and Young People’s Libraries, also organizes Hieroglyphics courses for children. The courses are designed to foster the value of learning about the ancient Egyptian civilization, and to promote archeological awareness among children through the study of the ancient Egyptian language and related topics suitable for their age. Enrolled students were highly motivated and eager to learn hieroglyphics. Many of them came up with creative artworks and handicrafts using colors, carton, clay, and macaroni. Some students demonstrated remarkable acumen in painting and coloring, and showed proficiency in pursuing independent data gathering through simple research in books and on the Internet.
Given the substantial cuts in the budgets of the arts educational curricula in schools at the different levels of education, the Arts Center has selected children and adolescents as its focal point. The Arts Center, through its two units “Arts School” and “Child and Adolescent Creative Unit”, nurtures and honors the artist in every child. The Arts School offers a wide variety of artistic activities such as ballet, youth and amateur orchestra, children’s choir, piano, violin, voice training, guitar, drums, painting, yoga, acting and photography. The Arts School concerts, exhibitions and shows provide an extraordinary opportunity for children to explore their talents, develop confidence and work cooperatively together while having fun! The Child and Adolescent Creative Unit launched its activities in June 2007 targeting children and young people aged 5 to 17. The Unit is concerned with the development of children’s interests and natural talents through the practice of arts in various fields: sculpture, painting, printing, mosaic, puppet making, photography, storytelling, graphic design and oriental music.