
hello everyone it’s a great pleasure to be here and I’m going
be here and I’m going
be here and I’m going children and children education and how
children and children education and how
children and children education and how we as grown-ups can support and help
we as grown-ups can support and help
we as grown-ups can support and help children in their development and
children in their development and
children in their development and hopefully development of their curiosity
hopefully development of their curiosity
hopefully development of their curiosity and creativity as it was mentioned we
and creativity as it was mentioned we
and creativity as it was mentioned we have three children’s home and ages ten
have three children’s home and ages ten
have three children’s home and ages ten thirteen and fifteen all boys and those
thirteen and fifteen all boys and those
thirteen and fifteen all boys and those of you who has who has children or your
of you who has who has children or your
of you who has who has children or your grandparents you probably know the
grandparents you probably know the
grandparents you probably know the problem every time it’s a weekend or
problem every time it’s a weekend or
problem every time it’s a weekend or it’s school holidays or if after school
it’s school holidays or if after school
it’s school holidays or if after school time and you want to do something as a
time and you want to do something as a
time and you want to do something as a family it’s hard to find something to do
family it’s hard to find something to do
family it’s hard to find something to do it’s a challenge basically because most
it’s a challenge basically because most
it’s a challenge basically because most kids today they have seen the whole
kids today they have seen the whole
kids today they have seen the whole world through YouTube so nothing it
world through YouTube so nothing it
world through YouTube so nothing it excites them anymore
excites them anymore
excites them anymore and this was also the problem for us and
and this was also the problem for us and
and this was also the problem for us and my partner Maria and I we have been
my partner Maria and I we have been
my partner Maria and I we have been complaining about this for a very very
complaining about this for a very very
complaining about this for a very very long time so one day the oldest turned
long time so one day the oldest turned
long time so one day the oldest turned around and said you know what we are so
around and said you know what we are so
around and said you know what we are so tired of listening to you guys complain
tired of listening to you guys complain
tired of listening to you guys complain about this so why don’t you do something
about this so why don’t you do something
about this so why don’t you do something about it this was really really annoying
about it this was really really annoying
about it this was really really annoying observation because he was actually
observation because he was actually
observation because he was actually right
right
right we have been the river complaining for
we have been the river complaining for
we have been the river complaining for so many years and pointing at everybody
so many years and pointing at everybody
so many years and pointing at everybody else to fix this problem and maybe we
else to fix this problem and maybe we
else to fix this problem and maybe we should take some lead and responsibility
should take some lead and responsibility
should take some lead and responsibility in this so in November 2014 I left my
in this so in November 2014 I left my
in this so in November 2014 I left my job and I registered a educational
job and I registered a educational
job and I registered a educational center in Malmo Sweden called cool minds
center in Malmo Sweden called cool minds
center in Malmo Sweden called cool minds at this point of time we had absolutely
at this point of time we had absolutely
at this point of time we had absolutely no idea how I mean we we did know on the
no idea how I mean we we did know on the
no idea how I mean we we did know on the highest level that we want to have a
highest level that we want to have a
highest level that we want to have a inspirational educational center but
inspirational educational center but
inspirational educational center but watch how do we reach that point what
watch how do we reach that point what
watch how do we reach that point what are the activities and many other
are the activities and many other
are the activities and many other questions we could we didn’t have an
questions we could we didn’t have an
questions we could we didn’t have an idea so for us the first step was
idea so for us the first step was
idea so for us the first step was actually to ask ourselves several
actually to ask ourselves several
actually to ask ourselves several questions and the first one was what is
questions and the first one was what is
questions and the first one was what is it that we know about these creatures
it that we know about these creatures
it that we know about these creatures that we call children the first thing
that we call children the first thing
that we call children the first thing that popped into our head was that they
that popped into our head was that they
that popped into our head was that they have a amazing capability to soak up
have a amazing capability to soak up
have a amazing capability to soak up knowledge in the early years especially
knowledge in the early years especially
knowledge in the early years especially early years and the second thing was
early years and the second thing was
early years and the second thing was that they loved to play
that they loved to play
that they loved to play this was genius it was a it was a
this was genius it was a it was a
this was genius it was a it was a fantastic revolution for us what if we
fantastic revolution for us what if we
fantastic revolution for us what if we combine playing with learning so that
combine playing with learning so that
combine playing with learning so that was the first thing the second thing
was the first thing the second thing
was the first thing the second thing that we we wanted to do also with this
that we we wanted to do also with this
that we we wanted to do also with this Center was there we didn’t want to have
Center was there we didn’t want to have
Center was there we didn’t want to have another school so we didn’t want
another school so we didn’t want
another school so we didn’t want children to go to school and then they
children to go to school and then they
children to go to school and then they go to another school we wanted to create
go to another school we wanted to create
go to another school we wanted to create a very inspiring environment but it’s
a very inspiring environment but it’s
a very inspiring environment but it’s fun to be part of it
fun to be part of it
fun to be part of it and for that we started to work with
and for that we started to work with
and for that we started to work with colors with the design with the with the
colors with the design with the with the
colors with the design with the with the we opened up the construction so the
we opened up the construction so the
we opened up the construction so the children they can see into the
children they can see into the
children they can see into the construction how how the building is
construction how how the building is
construction how how the building is built a lot of fun colors we put a lot
built a lot of fun colors we put a lot
built a lot of fun colors we put a lot of time in this also for us was another
of time in this also for us was another
of time in this also for us was another thing that was very important and that
thing that was very important and that
thing that was very important and that was to create a environment where
was to create a environment where
was to create a environment where children they can experiment often a lot
children they can experiment often a lot
children they can experiment often a lot of the experiments also at school it’s
of the experiments also at school it’s
of the experiments also at school it’s very much controlled we wanted them to
very much controlled we wanted them to
very much controlled we wanted them to have the possibility to try maybe it
have the possibility to try maybe it
have the possibility to try maybe it doesn’t they don’t succeed but they try
doesn’t they don’t succeed but they try
doesn’t they don’t succeed but they try again and they learn from that process
again and they learn from that process
again and they learn from that process so we didn’t want to control the
so we didn’t want to control the
so we didn’t want to control the experiments with these thoughts we open
experiments with these thoughts we open
experiments with these thoughts we open coal mines in August 2015 and we were
coal mines in August 2015 and we were
coal mines in August 2015 and we were extremely excited but to be honest
extremely excited but to be honest
extremely excited but to be honest extremely terrified as well we had
extremely terrified as well we had
extremely terrified as well we had absolutely no idea what will expect us
absolutely no idea what will expect us
absolutely no idea what will expect us how the families are going to receive us
how the families are going to receive us
how the families are going to receive us how we’re going to meet the expectations
how we’re going to meet the expectations
how we’re going to meet the expectations of children and especially how are we
of children and especially how are we
of children and especially how are we going to kind of deal with the different
going to kind of deal with the different
going to kind of deal with the different maturity levels and etc very quickly
maturity levels and etc very quickly
maturity levels and etc very quickly already in the beginning of the open
already in the beginning of the open
already in the beginning of the open time be it came clear to us that we
time be it came clear to us that we
time be it came clear to us that we couldn’t deal with this on our own we
couldn’t deal with this on our own we
couldn’t deal with this on our own we couldn’t come up with all the great
couldn’t come up with all the great
couldn’t come up with all the great ideas and fun activities for the
ideas and fun activities for the
ideas and fun activities for the children only by ourselves we didn’t
children only by ourselves we didn’t
children only by ourselves we didn’t have the capacity and capability so we
have the capacity and capability so we
have the capacity and capability so we turned around to our suppliers employees
turned around to our suppliers employees
turned around to our suppliers employees different organizations and we try to
different organizations and we try to
different organizations and we try to kind of mobilize everyone around us
kind of mobilize everyone around us
kind of mobilize everyone around us everyone that had something to do with
everyone that had something to do with
everyone that had something to do with cool minds to help us come up with these
cool minds to help us come up with these
cool minds to help us come up with these things and just to give you an idea
things and just to give you an idea
things and just to give you an idea about what we do at coal mines coal
about what we do at coal mines coal
about what we do at coal mines coal mines is basically divided into four
mines is basically divided into four
mines is basically divided into four main areas we have IT we have
main areas we have IT we have
main areas we have IT we have electronics and technology we have
electronics and technology we have
electronics and technology we have biology chemistry in film and media each
biology chemistry in film and media each
biology chemistry in film and media each area then has four to five employees
area then has four to five employees
area then has four to five employees taking care of that area with the team
taking care of that area with the team
taking care of that area with the team lead that is responsible resources and
lead that is responsible resources and
lead that is responsible resources and planning of activities and in pile and
planning of activities and in pile and
planning of activities and in pile and we have for instance we have schools
we have for instance we have schools
we have for instance we have schools visiting us during the day and then
visiting us during the day and then
visiting us during the day and then after the school time its school after
after the school time its school after
after the school time its school after school activities and in the weekends we
school activities and in the weekends we
school activities and in the weekends we have drop in activities and especially
have drop in activities and especially
have drop in activities and especially the weekends were quite important for us
the weekends were quite important for us
the weekends were quite important for us because we felt that children should
because we felt that children should
because we felt that children should have the possibility to come there and
have the possibility to come there and
have the possibility to come there and try out an experiment and in case they
try out an experiment and in case they
try out an experiment and in case they feel that something is really really fun
feel that something is really really fun
feel that something is really really fun they can then join after-school
they can then join after-school
they can then join after-school activities and where we dig into the
activities and where we dig into the
activities and where we dig into the topics over for instance eight weeks
topics over for instance eight weeks
topics over for instance eight weeks time and we get deeper into the topics
time and we get deeper into the topics
time and we get deeper into the topics and especially exposing children to
and especially exposing children to
and especially exposing children to other areas it’s very important so they
other areas it’s very important so they
other areas it’s very important so they can find their talents then get excited
can find their talents then get excited
can find their talents then get excited about these things I mean as it was told
about these things I mean as it was told
about these things I mean as it was told I originally come from Iran and there we
I originally come from Iran and there we
I originally come from Iran and there we had few options to become a very
had few options to become a very
had few options to become a very successful kid either you could become a
successful kid either you could become a
successful kid either you could become a doctor or you could become engineer or a
doctor or you could become engineer or a
doctor or you could become engineer or a dentist
dentist
dentist why dentist I have no idea probably
why dentist I have no idea probably
why dentist I have no idea probably because of the high income but
because of the high income but
because of the high income but nevertheless that was those options and
nevertheless that was those options and
nevertheless that was those options and even though that I moved to Denmark when
even though that I moved to Denmark when
even though that I moved to Denmark when I was 12 years old and lived with a
I was 12 years old and lived with a
I was 12 years old and lived with a foster family which predominantly
foster family which predominantly
foster family which predominantly focused on humanitarian topics and music
focused on humanitarian topics and music
focused on humanitarian topics and music and my options they got expanded but
and my options they got expanded but
and my options they got expanded but still my early years they had phoned me
still my early years they had phoned me
still my early years they had phoned me to one to become an engineer and it was
to one to become an engineer and it was
to one to become an engineer and it was pretty easy for
pretty easy for
pretty easy for me because I couldn’t stand to look into
me because I couldn’t stand to look into
me because I couldn’t stand to look into people’s mouths so engineering seemed
people’s mouths so engineering seemed
people’s mouths so engineering seemed like a good option for me but and that
like a good option for me but and that
like a good option for me but and that was why for us it was also important to
was why for us it was also important to
was why for us it was also important to at least focus on those early years and
at least focus on those early years and
at least focus on those early years and that was why we said okay the center’s
that was why we said okay the center’s
that was why we said okay the center’s are are the activities we offer should
are are the activities we offer should
are are the activities we offer should predominantly at least in the beginning
predominantly at least in the beginning
predominantly at least in the beginning focus on activities for children between
focus on activities for children between
focus on activities for children between ages of five and 15 years we are we
ages of five and 15 years we are we
ages of five and 15 years we are we offer many many different courses for
offer many many different courses for
offer many many different courses for the kids in biology we have solving
the kids in biology we have solving
the kids in biology we have solving crimes forensics we do DNA and bacteria
crimes forensics we do DNA and bacteria
crimes forensics we do DNA and bacteria courses for children I’m not going to go
courses for children I’m not going to go
courses for children I’m not going to go into detail about DNA I think wolf has
into detail about DNA I think wolf has
into detail about DNA I think wolf has already covered it pretty well but but
already covered it pretty well but but
already covered it pretty well but but we we have our pallets we have a very
we we have our pallets we have a very
we we have our pallets we have a very important so children they can desiccate
important so children they can desiccate
important so children they can desiccate those and and see what is it that the
those and and see what is it that the
those and and see what is it that the owl has eaten
owl has eaten
owl has eaten how does my own DNA looks like and
how does my own DNA looks like and
how does my own DNA looks like and during these activities children tend to
during these activities children tend to
during these activities children tend to a lot of questions and we have always a
a lot of questions and we have always a
a lot of questions and we have always a lot of people helping these children
lot of people helping these children
lot of people helping these children with answering those questions in IT we
with answering those questions in IT we
with answering those questions in IT we have we program apps and gaming’s and a
have we program apps and gaming’s and a
have we program apps and gaming’s and a lot of other stuff and especially I
lot of other stuff and especially I
lot of other stuff and especially I recall a kid Simon who was 12 years old
recall a kid Simon who was 12 years old
recall a kid Simon who was 12 years old and he come he came to cruel mines
and he come he came to cruel mines
and he come he came to cruel mines together with his mom and we he didn’t
together with his mom and we he didn’t
together with his mom and we he didn’t know what interested him and the same
know what interested him and the same
know what interested him and the same the parents didn’t know what interested
the parents didn’t know what interested
the parents didn’t know what interested him so he joined the programming course
him so he joined the programming course
him so he joined the programming course and the introduction course is very
and the introduction course is very
and the introduction course is very basic it’s a drag-and-drop programming
basic it’s a drag-and-drop programming
basic it’s a drag-and-drop programming and he joined that and within the
and he joined that and within the
and he joined that and within the three-month period time he went from
three-month period time he went from
three-month period time he went from that very simple visual programming to
that very simple visual programming to
that very simple visual programming to advanced Java programming those of you
advanced Java programming those of you
advanced Java programming those of you who had program you know this this is
who had program you know this this is
who had program you know this this is hard to do and it was just amazing to
hard to do and it was just amazing to
hard to do and it was just amazing to see his development in those three
see his development in those three
see his development in those three months and he got so caught up with it
months and he got so caught up with it
months and he got so caught up with it that he actually wanted to have his
that he actually wanted to have his
that he actually wanted to have his birthday in the IT room we were quite
birthday in the IT room we were quite
birthday in the IT room we were quite pessimistic about that about his mom and
pessimistic about that about his mom and
pessimistic about that about his mom and I we discussed for a long time but he
I we discussed for a long time but he
I we discussed for a long time but he insisted the
insisted the
insisted the that’s what he wants so we put together
that’s what he wants so we put together
that’s what he wants so we put together something for him and he had 15 of his
something for him and he had 15 of his
something for him and he had 15 of his friends over and they had a lot of fun
friends over and they had a lot of fun
friends over and they had a lot of fun during the two hours and they showed
during the two hours and they showed
during the two hours and they showed each other their games and had a lot of
each other their games and had a lot of
each other their games and had a lot of fun with that
fun with that
fun with that another area is electronics and then we
another area is electronics and then we
another area is electronics and then we have one of the very popular courses is
have one of the very popular courses is
have one of the very popular courses is that we do we build a robot over eight
that we do we build a robot over eight
that we do we build a robot over eight weeks of time together with the children
weeks of time together with the children
weeks of time together with the children and this is quite a complex process
and this is quite a complex process
and this is quite a complex process actually because there’s a lot of
actually because there’s a lot of
actually because there’s a lot of soldering and components and things go
soldering and components and things go
soldering and components and things go wrong from time to time but one time it
wrong from time to time but one time it
wrong from time to time but one time it really went wrong very very much so I
really went wrong very very much so I
really went wrong very very much so I was very frustrated and went beat the
was very frustrated and went beat the
was very frustrated and went beat the robots to my electronic suppliers which
robots to my electronic suppliers which
robots to my electronic suppliers which were I know the CEO and he’s an
were I know the CEO and he’s an
were I know the CEO and he’s an electronic engineer and I said I’m so
electronic engineer and I said I’m so
electronic engineer and I said I’m so frustrated and then he turned around and
frustrated and then he turned around and
frustrated and then he turned around and said to me fascin you are trying to do
said to me fascin you are trying to do
said to me fascin you are trying to do things with 8 years old kids that we did
things with 8 years old kids that we did
things with 8 years old kids that we did at the university level what did you
at the university level what did you
at the university level what did you expect it will go wrong but to be honest
expect it will go wrong but to be honest
expect it will go wrong but to be honest looking now we have done this for one
looking now we have done this for one
looking now we have done this for one and a half years the percentage of
and a half years the percentage of
and a half years the percentage of failure is so small and we succeed by
failure is so small and we succeed by
failure is so small and we succeed by far more than we fail and it’s just
far more than we fail and it’s just
far more than we fail and it’s just amazing to see children actually
amazing to see children actually
amazing to see children actually succeeding and learning so quickly just
succeeding and learning so quickly just
succeeding and learning so quickly just for two weeks ago we had a birthday
for two weeks ago we had a birthday
for two weeks ago we had a birthday party 19 kids and they were supposed to
party 19 kids and they were supposed to
party 19 kids and they were supposed to build a small electronic gadget within
build a small electronic gadget within
build a small electronic gadget within two hours two of the children previously
two hours two of the children previously
two hours two of the children previously had joined for a summer camp at coal
had joined for a summer camp at coal
had joined for a summer camp at coal mines we didn’t know that and after 15
mines we didn’t know that and after 15
mines we didn’t know that and after 15 minutes they were already done so
minutes they were already done so
minutes they were already done so annoying because we didn’t have any
annoying because we didn’t have any
annoying because we didn’t have any other activity for these two and you
other activity for these two and you
other activity for these two and you know 25 components rightly placed on a
know 25 components rightly placed on a
know 25 components rightly placed on a circuit board soldered it’s even hard
circuit board soldered it’s even hard
circuit board soldered it’s even hard for it growing up to do and it worked
for it growing up to do and it worked
for it growing up to do and it worked perfectly parents they typically come to
perfectly parents they typically come to
perfectly parents they typically come to Kumar’s and they they have the same
Kumar’s and they they have the same
Kumar’s and they they have the same problem as we have as a family what
problem as we have as a family what
problem as we have as a family what should we do with the kids and when you
should we do with the kids and when you
should we do with the kids and when you de see their children sitting there for
de see their children sitting there for
de see their children sitting there for three hours not moving at all forgetting
three hours not moving at all forgetting
three hours not moving at all forgetting all about iPads iPhones and
all about iPads iPhones and
all about iPads iPhones and and monsters they need to hunt in the
and monsters they need to hunt in the
and monsters they need to hunt in the near gym I they start running around and
near gym I they start running around and
near gym I they start running around and taking pictures like they’re a
taking pictures like they’re a
taking pictures like they’re a journalist and to be honest they want to
journalist and to be honest they want to
journalist and to be honest they want to show everyone else that my kid can sit
show everyone else that my kid can sit
show everyone else that my kid can sit still and and they can if it’s fun and
still and and they can if it’s fun and
still and and they can if it’s fun and then the learning comes as well and I
then the learning comes as well and I
then the learning comes as well and I think this is absolutely our
think this is absolutely our
think this is absolutely our responsibility as grown-ups to make a
responsibility as grown-ups to make a
responsibility as grown-ups to make a platform that is both fun and
platform that is both fun and
platform that is both fun and educational and then I’m sure that the
educational and then I’m sure that the
educational and then I’m sure that the children would follow we just during the
children would follow we just during the
children would follow we just during the summer we had our summer camp and then
summer we had our summer camp and then
summer we had our summer camp and then we had a lot of kids joining in one kid
we had a lot of kids joining in one kid
we had a lot of kids joining in one kid wanted to join two of his friends that
wanted to join two of his friends that
wanted to join two of his friends that had signed up for programming but there
had signed up for programming but there
had signed up for programming but there was no seat available anymore
was no seat available anymore
was no seat available anymore so he joined the electronic course this
so he joined the electronic course this
so he joined the electronic course this was the next best thing because he could
was the next best thing because he could
was the next best thing because he could be in the same building as them and the
be in the same building as them and the
be in the same building as them and the second day when I was going around and
second day when I was going around and
second day when I was going around and asking how are you doing how’s
asking how are you doing how’s
asking how are you doing how’s everything he turned around and said to
everything he turned around and said to
everything he turned around and said to me you know what I am so lucky that
me you know what I am so lucky that
me you know what I am so lucky that there was no seat for me in the
there was no seat for me in the
there was no seat for me in the programming because this is so much more
programming because this is so much more
programming because this is so much more fun I mean this is really what cool
fun I mean this is really what cool
fun I mean this is really what cool minds is is all about we open another
minds is is all about we open another
minds is is all about we open another door for this kid if he hadn’t tried out
door for this kid if he hadn’t tried out
door for this kid if he hadn’t tried out electronics he wouldn’t know if it’s fun
electronics he wouldn’t know if it’s fun
electronics he wouldn’t know if it’s fun he would have continued with sitting in
he would have continued with sitting in
he would have continued with sitting in front of the computer and doing
front of the computer and doing
front of the computer and doing programming so kuma is basically opening
programming so kuma is basically opening
programming so kuma is basically opening doors and exposed children to new ideas
doors and exposed children to new ideas
doors and exposed children to new ideas new subjects new area and then they will
new subjects new area and then they will
new subjects new area and then they will choose their own their own way a lot of
choose their own their own way a lot of
choose their own their own way a lot of kids today they a lot of parents are
kids today they a lot of parents are
kids today they a lot of parents are frustrated by the fact that kids sit in
frustrated by the fact that kids sit in
frustrated by the fact that kids sit in front of YouTube and they have seen
front of YouTube and they have seen
front of YouTube and they have seen everything but I honestly believe that
everything but I honestly believe that
everything but I honestly believe that seeing on YouTube how you do an electric
seeing on YouTube how you do an electric
seeing on YouTube how you do an electric engine and then you feel like you know
engine and then you feel like you know
engine and then you feel like you know you know you know how to build it it’s
you know you know how to build it it’s
you know you know how to build it it’s not the same of actually doing it
not the same of actually doing it
not the same of actually doing it yourself the learning curve that there
yourself the learning curve that there
yourself the learning curve that there is in actually doing failing redoing and
is in actually doing failing redoing and
is in actually doing failing redoing and fail many times probably but at the end
fail many times probably but at the end
fail many times probably but at the end succeed it’s just enormous how the how
succeed it’s just enormous how the how
succeed it’s just enormous how the how kumar’s will evolve how the future of
kumar’s will evolve how the future of
kumar’s will evolve how the future of cool knives will be I don’t know but I
cool knives will be I don’t know but I
cool knives will be I don’t know but I know for me and my
know for me and my
know for me and my family and whoever who has been involved
family and whoever who has been involved
family and whoever who has been involved in Kumar’s this has been a fantastic
in Kumar’s this has been a fantastic
in Kumar’s this has been a fantastic journey we have had a lot of fun with it
journey we have had a lot of fun with it
journey we have had a lot of fun with it and we hope we have touched the heart of
and we hope we have touched the heart of
and we hope we have touched the heart of some kids and we have kind of opened
some kids and we have kind of opened
some kids and we have kind of opened some eyes and we want to we’re going to
some eyes and we want to we’re going to
some eyes and we want to we’re going to continue doing that and in case you’re
continue doing that and in case you’re
continue doing that and in case you’re sitting and you’re thinking how can I
sitting and you’re thinking how can I
sitting and you’re thinking how can I help how can I get involved don’t
help how can I get involved don’t
help how can I get involved don’t hesitate to reach out to us we will need
hesitate to reach out to us we will need
hesitate to reach out to us we will need all the help we can get
all the help we can get
all the help we can get thank you very much for listening
thank you very much for listening
thank you very much for listening [Applause]
”
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