The restricted scope of activities for expatriate children here in the Kingdom reduces the opportunities for talented young people. The vision to provide a platform for the holistic development of South-Asian children in the Kingdom came to life on Oct. 24, 2003, with the emergence of a club called LEGACY. LEGACY, an acronym for Leadership and Empowering Global Academy for Children and Youth, is the brainchild of its founding directors Guna and Xavier Arputharaj. Explaining the purpose of the group, Guna said: “LEGACY was born out of a desire to make our children of today fully grown individuals of tomorrow. It is not a club. It is not a group. It is a movement. It is a global academy that seeks to empower children and youth to lead themselves and be able to lead others.” With its sixth anniversary approaching, LEGACY has indeed helped many children achieve their full potential. Parents too are full of praise for the club. K. Prasanth, whose children are members of LEGACY, thinks the club is “probably the best thing that happened to my children in the recent past. The interactive sessions together with the numerous opportunities of public speaking seem to have pulled my shy daughter out of her shell and made her more bold and confident. And with some of the most dedicated faculty who are in the group just for the pleasure of seeing young children blossom, you have a great thing going.” LEGACY seeks not only to be a learning experience for children, but also to combine learning with fun. Ten-year-old Rasha Riyaz, a student of Al-Waha International School and a “legacite” said: “LEGACY is a great opportunity for me to express my feelings and practice public speaking, as my friends and the LEGACY faculty are very encouraging.” Presently, all LEGACY sessions are conducted by its faculty, which includes: Muthappan Annamalai, general manager at Savola; K. L. Ravindran, senior engineer at Saudi Gazette; Farah Masood, vice principal of International Indian School Jeddah (IISJ); Dinesan Nallacherry, divisions manager at Electro Industries; P. V. Ashokan, marketing officer at Electro Industries; and Abdul Rehman, marketing officer at Budget Rent-a-Car. “After arriving in Jeddah two years ago, I joined a Toastmasters Club so that I could learn to organize myself in a systematic manner in line with my aspirations. From there, I moved on to LEGACY, where I spend time with youngsters as well as the faculty,” said LEGACY faculty member Muthappan. He said the group discussions that take place during social gatherings, tours, etc. of the club help group members to update themselves on the latest global developments in all areas. Lamenting the lack of activities for expatriate children in the Kingdom, Muthappan said: “Traditionally, expatriate children here learn music, dance, swimming and art other than their school education, which gives importance only to the subjects in the syllabus. They, therefore, lack leadership skills and qualities, such as, communication, confidence, etc.” Seconding him, Guna said that a child needs leadership qualities and empowering skills to face the world with courage and confidence. “We felt that if the child is made to realize that he has a purpose in life, he will become a fully alive human being. Our team discussed, brainstormed and articulated, and finally came up with the idea of LEGACY,” he said. IISJ Vice Principal Farah recalled the early days of the group. “Without an idea of what I was expected to do, I joined them. Arputharaj and Guna highlighted the objectives of the team and together we pledged to do something for the children who needed our guidance and support. LEGACY is a platform that paves the way for children who need that extra push to discover, accept and hone their abilities, talents and skills,” she said. She said that many of the senior “legacites” are now successfully pursuing their careers in various parts of the globe. Commenting on the need for such groups to exist alongside schools, where extra-curricular activities such as, elocution and debate competitions, are held, Farah said: “LEGACY serves those children who do not get an opportunity to participate in competitions held at school. At school, only the best and the already talented get a chance to compete and win.” said Farah.
