Talent Workshop to roll out future engineers

Some promising future engineers are trying their hand at assembling small motorboats and are looking forward to winning in the final competition of the Talent Workshop.

Participants are undergo training at Al Ghurair and BurJuman centres throughout this week and will take part in the final competition at the Dubai Police College on Wednesday.

Almost 40 children are taking part in the two workshops, supervised by experts and engineers. The judges will award the one who assembles a boat in the shortest time.

Ahmad Al Marri Company is co-operating with the Dubai Police in running the Talent Workshop and has provided some experts to teach the children how to assemble the pieces and the engine of the battery-operated boats.

Mohammed Rashid Al Shadi from Dubai Police is involved in supervising the children's activity: "I dedicate this Techno Surprises week to these children. Youngsters are our future and Dubai Police are committed to taking part in their education. The workshop is a good chance for the participants to learn new and interesting things."

Once the boats are complete, a swimming pool is ready to launch them. Children should be able to start up the engine using a remote control device, which works only if all the pieces have been assembled properly.

Engineer Fuad Al Marri, who is helping the children along with other engineers, noted: "Competitors go through a daily training programme from 3 to 10 pm. An engineer shows them how to assemble the pieces and explains the principles of functioning, giving them all the explanation they require."

He pointed out that the workshop is a useful and amusing way of acquiring new information and enhancing children's knowledge of electronics. Moreover, participants have a chance of working together in assembling the pieces, thereby getting a chance to co-operate and involve each other in the activity.

Ahmad Mhayyar, a 12-year-old UAE national from Al Ain, said: "I came here together with three other friends. My dad told me about this competition and I am happy to take part in it because this is the first time I am assembling a boat.

"I am learning how to make it work and I am having lots of fun. At the end we are going to have our own boat. I am really happy."

Rashid Taresh is a 12-year-old boy from Dubai who worked with Ahmad in assembling a boat: "I am learning lots of new things. This is the first time I am playing with battery-operated boats."

The youngest of the competition is seven-year-old Saud Gasim, who looks quite lost among the group of young engineers, but keenly watches what the others are doing and tries to imitate them.

A videotape displayed on a TV screen also helps the children understand how to construct small motor boats and how to operate them.

The speed trial will award the fastest boy with Dh500, while all participants will receive a small remote-controlled boat as a gift from Dubai Police.