Dubai: Kids as young as 6 earn up to Dh2,500 monthly at little merchants bazaar
Walk onto Sheikh Zayed Road's Oasis Mall in any given Saturday and you are met with fond cherubic faces and ecstatic smiles. Little vendors are keen to present their treasure – trinkets, paintings, stationery, plants, books, toys, etc. They have a great selection of cute things — all for very low prices.
The ‘Little Merchants Bazaar’ is a unique programme to nurture young entrepreneurship — children between 6 and 16 years old learn the case, creativity and independence of running a business of their own.
This local non-profit initiative provides a unique opportunity for young entrepreneurs to display their homemade wares, set up a table and interact with the public and start to develop valuable life skills.
Among them is 11-year-old soap maker Izaan Afaaq, a grade 5 student at Habitat School, Al Jurf, Ajman. It all started three years ago when he was gifted a soap-making kit. I started as a hobby that turned into obsession.
For countless hours, Izaan watched Youtube videos, tried different ingredients, and applied to master his skill. He showcased his organic soaps at the Future Entrepreneur event organised by Dubai Municipality when he was just eight years old. That event was the start of his journey as a mini-mogul.
The 13-year-old Izaan, who earns around Dh2,500 a month from the business, is spending his money on buying more books and Lego bricks. He also saves $600 to be used for his own education and also donates to charity.
His mother Nafseena said happily. “Izaan — more outgoing and self-assured. He converses with adults comfortably which is something that will help him in life. We opened a bank account just for him.
In addition to selling soaps, Izaan runs a soap-making workshop for children. "It's cool to see other kids all fired up to make something that they built themselves. His father Abdul Manaf said: 'Now even Izaan's six-year-old brother Almir helps out sometimes.
Yet another star of the bazaar is 13-year-old Bhakti Venkatesh Hegde who is all set to sell eco-friendly products. Bhakti, a DPS Sharjah student, has won several recognitions for her environmental advocacy and enterprising skills. Of late, she was conferred the Global Youth Awards - Environmental Change Award 2024 by The Legacy Project, London.
How did it start
Little Merchants Bazaar was born in the Covid-19 pandemic — when kids were stuck inside barely getting off screens and missing personal interaction.
Palestinian expat Rawan Adnan Zugheir, who settled in Dubai in 2010, wanted to provide a means for children to gather and engage in a more constructive and beneficial activity.
Rawan said: "Kids are stuck inside. 1 – Screenless Socialization I wanted to make something to keep them away from a screen and to also work on their social skills. That was when it hit me – a bazaar for kiddos!
The debut of the first bazaar was held during the winter of 2021 as an outdoors pop-up at Mirdif City Centre. The huge turnout of parents and excitement shown by young participants prompted Rawan to make the bazaar an ongoing event.
Oasis Mall was a worthwhile discovery for Rawan who faced many venues demanding trade licenses and formalities; Oasis Mall actually provided free space and tables along with chairs.
The bazaar has been going strong ever since, running every Saturday at Oasis Mall. From an initial batch of just 28, it has expanded to over 700 young business people. Rawan stated that the management of the mall (Ayala Centre) has been very supportive of the initiative. It allowed us to cultivate a space for kids to learn, grow, and flourish in.
More than a marketplace
Little Merchants Bazaar has grown to be much more than a mere marketplace. That way is as an educational experience that gives school kids the advantage of practical skills and money management. Plus, interacting with the customers is also great practice for the kids to work on their social skills.
“Being given the opportunity to showcase their skills pushes them to work harder and creatively, reaping both productivity and, passion. Rawan said, "Parents will often talk to me and tell me how confident and mature their children have become becasue of the bazaar."
Meanwhile, her daughters Maryam and Salma, also sell plants and have even held workshops on making plants. What they are doing is saving the money they earn, planning and budgeting for bigger purchases later. And it is beautiful to see this financial discipline in her,” Rawan said proudly.
How to participate
Participation in bazaar is free of charge. Open to kids between the ages of 6 and 16. Parents can register by contacting Rawan either via her Instagram page or through the WhatsApp groups she oversees in Arabic and English. Their next event is at the Meadows Village on January 18.
Comments