Five talented children stole the show at the 4th Global Competitiveness Forum here Tuesday when they shared how they developed independent innovative capabilities, the same qualities experts say are linked to a competitive economy. During the children's panel dubbed “Building Blocks of Sustainable Competitiveness,” the five children, from five different countries, said that their early arts education had contributed toward nurturing their creativity. The children said that early education had impacted on their sense of competence, self esteem and social responsibility. Saudi boy, Abdullah Anwar Hobrom, 12, who spoke fluent English, said that Saudi Arabia was a fertile ground for smart and talented people, during his speech entitled “Collaborating for Success”. His father interpreted the speech into Arabic for the audience. The boy said he learnt to speak English through a scholarship provided by the Mawhiba (Talent) Program of the King Abdul Aziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity. Saudi Arabia was the land of oil and energy, and with the cooperation from big international corporations, success can be achieved and talent cherished, he said. Talented people would, however, need support from their families and schools, he said. It should all start with reading, Habrom said, citing a verse from the Holy Qur'an “Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists)” Bogdan Zagribelny, 12, from Kazakhstan, said that knowledge comes from four sources: wisdom, cleverness, life experiences, and early exposure to a variety of child literature and art. During his turn on “Arts Education”, he said that the arts awards he received during his early childhood had increased his creativity. For Indonesian teenager Qanita Qamarani, the Holy Qur'an is a book of inspiration for arts, sciences, and knowledge. Qamarani, 14, said she had learned a great deal from the Holy Book about different aspects of life. There was an important side to the Holy Qur'an that Muslims should be aware of: the wide knowledge about life and a call for creativity and imagination, she said during her part on “Creative Experiences”. Yootha Tiki Yong, 11, from Malaysia, was upset about recent anti-Christian violence in her country, saying that this does not reflect the peaceful co-existence of different faiths. Violence does not create an ideal environment for creativity and competitiveness, she said. Yong cited China as a successful model of the modern economy that has been achieved through hard work. Nicholas Goyette, 14, from the USA, said that the hurricane that hit his state has made him reflect on its consequences, and spurred him on to work for a better future for the state. Goyette's session was on “Overcoming Adversity”. Hobrom's mother, who teaches English at Prince Sultan University, said that her son grew up with a passion for reading. “He was given the freedom to read books of his choice. The smallest book he has is a 100-page book,” she said. Hobrom started his schooling in the USA and continued at a government school in the Kingdom. When he was in the 4th grade, he was nominated for a scholarship at the Mawhiba (Talent) Program at the King Abdul Aziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity. Hobrom is now in the 7th grade and loves soccer, his mother said. Hobrom's brother, who is in the 5th grade, has also been nominated for the same Mawhiba Program. “I care a lot for their education and I have brought them a US school curriculum to teach them at home myself,” she said. During Monday's panel discussions, former British prime minister Tony Blair said he supported arts education at an early age because it would create a healthy atmosphere of competitiveness among children. Success should not start with politics, but rather with a good way of thinking, he said. Blair said the huge education budget of the Kingdom would create a bright generation.
