Expression is the buzzword for kids, teens at The Gaia Centre
dubai — Back in 2008, seven-yearold Ethan Fernandes was the shy and retiring type. Getting up on stage at school was a big ask, so much so, he never participated in any school productions. But today, 18-year-old Ethan is worlds apart from that little boy and performing is his passion.
To help conquer those fears of having all eyes on him as a youngster, Ethan joined The Gaia Centre nearly 10 years ago. A training institute that focuses on creative expression through drama, art, writing, communication skills and theatre performances, he credits the centre for being the place where he learnt to express himself and open up.
“When I first visited the centre, I had a lot of trouble expressing myself. But after just a few months I fell into the creativity trap, but it’s a great trap,” he told Khaleej Times.
More than just a place that helps children and teens hone in on their artistic side, the centre’s fundamental core is all about exploration, expression and confidence building.
“Many of the parents that we speak to send their children here because they want them to build on their communication skills. They are mainly interested in helping their children overcome shyness, so what we try and help them do is bridge that gap between what the child is thinking and how they can communicate it,” Jesika Menon, cofounder & director of Emotions at the Gaia Centre, said.
Following an organic approach to self-development, a big focus at Gaia is for people to be comfortable in their own skin. “We want children to have a keen sense of awareness of their personality. Here, they can identify their short comings and work on overcoming them.”
Offering a variety of programmes that are heavily rooted in education, the centre got its official Knowledge and Human Development (KHDA) licensing in 2013. From art to drama, and DJ-ing to learning how to understand manga (comics created in Japan), the centre has a heavy focus on holistic learning, with creativity the main driving force behind its whole concept.
“We had this one child who was not doing that well in his academics. His parents came to us very frustrated but as soon as he started performing, we could see he was brilliant. That was his natural vibe, his calling in life if you will. His parents hadn’t had the chance to see that side of him and he excelled,” fellow co-founder Ashwin said.
After seeing that, his parents even moved him to a different school that focused more on holistic learning. With approximately 150 children and teenagers enrolled at the centre, Ashwin said although it is a place which usually has no rules, there is one thing which they insist on, and that’s constant interaction with parents.
“We are not a place where you just drop your kids off and pick them up again. Value systems are a real focus for us and we practice concepts like trust, courage, love and will, so they can transition into real life.”