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WHAT workshop caught Daily Express’ particular notice at the 16th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival?    

Actively cultivating the imagination and imaginative power of children.

Cultivate this inherent inner power of mind which is actually very consequential in the real world.

As we shall see in this special report, this is the “mother” of all the great inventions,  creative products and solutions to problems.  

Ironically, it is neglected and dismissed by and large.

What attracted my interest was the word “creativity” assigned to one workshop.

Upfront was a quest to foster a future force of innovative minds.  

What I never expected was imagination is regarded as the key to ignite creativity.

Because people can imagine evil so readily, and rife.

“This workshop works on the imagination of the kids, their creative skills,” explained Beirut hailed Lebanese university Grad, Sara Mezher, who conducted the workshop.

Subsequently I studied what imaginative power really does.

Imagination – mother of great inventions & products  

It turned out that imagination and imaginativeness are the mother of great creative inventions and products that make the world go round!

The wheel, the printing press, the light bulb,  computers, automobiles, cell phones, internet , music, great music, films, art, theatre too… directly stem from individual creativity. And electricity, absolutely yes – electricity which powers the world – changed the way humans think, act and plan are the fruits of imagination down the millenia!

It started with people who ‘imagined’ harnessing this force in nature dating back 600BC, till others in the 19th century, like Benjamin Franklin who ‘imagined’, then proved lightning is electric currents and ‘created’ the lightning rod to protect buildings from lightning strikes by diverting  electrical charges to the ground.  

Although American Thomas Edison is most credited for inventing the light bulb, it is actually the outcome of many ‘creative minds and hands’. But haven’t all these benefits been taken for granted.

In any case, all of above cited examples emerged from the creative vision to solve a problem or to fulfil a need such as the need for mobile communication in the case of the hand phone.          Breakthroughs from imagination & imaginativeness 

So what is imagination really, the mother of cherished inventions and solutions to problems? 

If imagination and imaginativeness are the mother of creativity, a tenet central to Christianity, Judaism and Islam is God created the universe out of nothing – ‘creatio exnihilo’, existence from a state of absolute non-existence rather than from pre-existing materials.

But Sara’s workshop is clearly designed to cultivate and entrench imagination and imaginativeness of children pivotal for making things better and spur breakthroughs.

In this sense, Imagination means the power or ability to form mental images of what is not present. 

Imaginativeness is that inner quality of generating vivid, compelling creative imagination – the faculty defined inherent power of mind to think, reason, see, discern, conceive something that’s new and better and does not already exist, visualise the future that is necessary for planning and decision making. 

Quite a mouthful of words but those are deep mysteries that experienced workshop conductors like Sara Mezher are tasked to impart to the young minds, specifically in Emirate Sharjah.       

Judgementalism kills creative minds 

But Sara told Daily Express she is very careful about “judgement” or “judgementalism” that can kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.    

“This workshop called ‘Jewellery Boxes’ is about working on the imagination of the kids, their creativity skills. It’s a way to express themselves without judging them, so they can draw, paint, anything they want. It’s like their own personalities, they can translate it into art,” she noted.

DaiIy Express: You mean you avoid judging their works?

“Yes, exactly. Very important. They should make art without someone giving them the rules, so there are no rules in art. I just want them to enjoy using the colours and having fun.”

Daily Express: How important is creativity in children?

“It’s very important because each kid is creative, but we have to find a way to let this creativity out,” she said.

Daily Express: So how do you teach creativity without spoiling it? 

“I always give them whatever items I have and some colors, and I let them just create.

“I give them this space to create, let me see what you can do. And I always say it’s very nice, you can do it this way, that’s so nice. I always push the kids to not be afraid (fear) and just express themselves.”

Daily Express: Do you give them recognition after they’re done it? 

“No, no, no, I never tell them this is not nice, this is nice, no, no, no, I always say that’s so good.”

Daily Express: Why?

“Because I don’t allow myself to judge their art, their painting, their creating, this is their imagination. I can’t limit their imagination,” Sara was emphatic.

Daily Express: You mean this is a policy of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival?

“No, no, no, there is no policy, but I don’t like to do it, after doing workshops here for almost 10 years.” 

How judging children drives mortal fear  

I guess the well-read Sara is acutely aware of the psychologically destructive ‘fear factor’.

A critical understanding like that well qualifies her to take care of children,

Fear creates hesitation. Fear stops action. And everything is always about action. 

Reckless judgement leads to a fear of making mistakes. 

When children are overly concerned about how their ideas are perceived, they will hesitate to take risks, explore unconventional concepts which often is essential for creative breakthroughs.  

Daily Express: How do you feel aboutthe Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, where you have conducted workshop for almost 10 years?

“I’m so happy, because you always have the chance to meet new kids, to get to know more people, people from different ages, different nationalities, different countries, so it’s always nice to work with kids.”

Daily Express: So you think this festival is very good? 

“It’s very important, because it will help the kids to get to know each other, to learn about art, about science, to read books, it’s a new way to let the kids to have fun,” she said.

Daily Express: You come from Lebanon, but do you have this kind of festival? 

“No, in Lebanon we don’t have this festival, no, I think this is only in UAE, in Sharjah, yes.”

Daily Express: So you think UAE especially Emirate Sharjah is unique? 

“Exactly, it is unique, it works so much on art and appreciates the artists and the culture. So this is so nice. 

Daily Express: Why do you think Emirates Sharjah is unique? 

“Because it’s the only city who encourages artists, who do big cultural events, who take care of each artist, of each talent, so that’s nice,” she concluded.