From Dreams to Reality: Empowering Young Innovators Through Education | Afnan Ali

Vision & Inspiration - The speaker's dream, conceived as a university student, was to establish a research center to empower children as inventors and innovators [1] - The speaker's visit to Silicon Valley in 2011 highlighted the gap in research and development between the East and West, reinforcing the need to focus on technology education for children [1] - The speaker's mission became to educate children in science and technology through the academy [1] Academy's Impact - Eureka Academy for Technological Education was founded, turning the dream into reality [1] - The academy expanded to two branches within a year of its founding [1] - The academy has impacted 10,000 children in the Kingdom, viewing each as a unique project and a seed for future growth [1] Overcoming Challenges & Achieving Success - Establishing a private project involves significant responsibility, team management, and long working hours, especially in the early years [1] - The speaker found motivation in the impact on children's minds and spirits, witnessing their excitement upon achieving success [1] - The story of Nizar, who persevered through the night to program his robot, exemplifies the dedication and positive stubbornness fostered by the academy [1] - Hazem, a child with hearing and speech difficulties who faced bullying, gained confidence and became a hero in his school through his inventions and achievements [1] Call to Action - Only 3% of the world's population plans for the future, and they tend to have more opportunities for wealth, happiness, and resilience [1] - The speaker encourages the audience to write down their dreams and aspirations for the next 10 years (until 2035) and strive to make a difference in the world [1]