DUBAI, UAE — The Weekends of Wonder (WOW), a community initiative under the Global Cultural Centre at Glendale International School, has officially unveiled a new weekly programme aimed at turning screen time into real-world shared time for Dubai families. The initiative officially opens its doors on Saturday, 19 September 2026, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Kensington Hall.
Created as an open invitation to children, parents, grandparents, and local residents across the emirate, the initiative transforms the traditional campus environment into a vibrant hub for creativity, skill-building, and intergenerational connection.
Rather than a typical sit-and-listen launch, the opening morning will feature interactive taster sessions where visitors can meet facilitators, try out activities, and discover recurring weekend offerings. The broader programme spans a diverse range of fields, including visual arts, performing arts, cookery, literature, fitness, and creative sewing. It also features the Lawyers’ Circle— FOR STUDENTS.
“Some of the most powerful learning happens outside a traditional classroom,” said Mohana Kelkar, Business Development Manager at Global Schools Group. “Weekends of Wonder
[ WOW ] is about opening our school doors and allowing those experiences to happen naturally. I would love to see children, parents, entrepreneurs, and professionals all learning from one another.”
Following the September launch, the initiative establishes an ongoing weekly schedule:
- Fridays (4:00 PM – 7:00 PM): Weekly community activities, with the third Friday of every month reserved for live music, stage performances, and showcases.
- Saturdays (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM): Hands-on masterclasses and workshops. The fourth Saturday of every month will feature a dedicated Student Bazaar, giving young entrepreneurs a real-world platform to create, market, and sell their own products.
- Special Events: Future programming will include a Junior Chef Interschool Competition, promoting healthy eating habits, teamwork, and sustainability through culinary tasks.
The initiative actively invites local parents, artisans, and professionals to join as mentors, workshop leaders, and vendors rather than remaining passive spectators.
Event Summary
- Event: Weekend of Wonder (WOW) Launch
- Date & Time: Saturday, 19 September 2026 | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Location: Kensington Hall, Glendale International School, Dubai
- Admission: Open to the public
For media inquiries, workshop registration, or vendor participation details, please contact the Global Cultural Centre at Glendale International School.
From Screen Time to Shared Time: Weekends of Wonder Opens its Doors to the Community
Dubai, UAE: What if weekends could be about a little less scrolling and a little more doing?
More conversations. More creativity. More music. More laughter. And perhaps even discovering a talent you never knew you had.
This is the simple thought behind Weekends of Wonder (WOW), a new community initiative under the Global Cultural Centre at Glendale International School, part of Global Schools Group.
Launching on Saturday, 19 September 2026, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Kensington Hall, Glendale International School, WOW is an invitation to families and the wider Dubai community to come back to the joy of learning and experiencing things together.
A weekend with something for everyone
Weekends of Wonder has been created for the whole family—children, parents, grandparents, friends and community members.
The programme brings together an interesting mix of experiences: Kavartz , Dazzling Designs, Aadaakari Studios-art and craft, music and performing arts, Petite Gourmet, Reset by Rajul – cookery, TYT media – literature and storytelling, Creative bees events, Nutri wellness guide, YogOasis, Deep parenting – wellness and fitness, Sui Dhaaga studio – stitching and creative sewing, Sticker journaling and vision boards – Creative minds, Prachiti, Resourceful minds, Handwriting, Flower making by ChAArts, Absolute Adventure – adventure activities, TYT media – certified courses and skill-development programmes.
There will also be a Lawyers’ Circle by our very talented Aryaan.
The launch itself will be about experiencing rather than simply listening. Families can walk in, meet the facilitators, participate in taster sessions, ask questions, discover different programmes and then choose what they would like to explore further.
More than a one-day event
WOW is not being planned as another event on the school calendar. The idea is to create an ongoing community space.
Every Friday from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the campus will host different activities and experiences, while the third Friday of each month will come alive with music, performances and special events.
Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM will feature workshops, masterclasses and family experiences.
The fourth Saturday of every month will also feature a Student Bazaar, giving young people an opportunity to experience entrepreneurship firsthand—creating, presenting, interacting with customers and learning the value of an idea.
And the community is already beginning to respond. Parents from the school have expressed interest in conducting workshops and participating in the Saturday Bazaar, something that captures exactly what WOW hopes to achieve.
Parents don’t always have to sit in the audience. They can be the artists, entrepreneurs, mentors, professionals and storytellers who bring their own experiences into the community.
Putting the screens away—for a while
Perhaps one of the most important ideas behind Weekends of Wonder is also one of the simplest- Put the screens away for a few hours.
Children today have access to extraordinary technology, but they also need opportunities to work with their hands, talk to people, make something, perform, cook, move, laugh, fail, try again and discover.
Families need those moments too.
WOW hopes to create a space where parents and children can do something together rather than simply be in the same room together.
It is about moving from screen time to shared time.
Learning beyond four walls
“Over the years, I have increasingly felt that some of the most powerful learning happens outside a traditional classroom. It can happen while a child is cooking, painting, performing, selling something they have created or simply having a conversation with someone from a completely different profession.
“Weekend of Wonder is about opening our school doors and allowing those experiences to happen. I would love to see children, parents, grandparents, entrepreneurs and professionals all learning from one another. That, for me, is what a community should feel like.”— Mohana Kelkar, Business Development Manager, Global Schools Group
A platform for the community, by the community
The larger vision is to bring together artists, chefs, musicians, educators, wellness practitioners, entrepreneurs, professionals, local businesses and parent-led enterprises and give them a platform to share what they know.
The collaborators and vendors participating in WOW will therefore be an important part of its story.
Future experiences will also include initiatives such as the Junior Chef Interschool Competition, giving students opportunities to learn about healthy eating, creativity, teamwork and sustainability through a real-world culinary experience.
Ultimately, Weekends of Wonder is based on a very simple belief:
A school doesn’t have to become quiet when the school week ends.
It can become a place where the community comes alive.
A place where somebody discovers a new hobby, a child finds confidence on a stage, a parent shares a hidden talent, a young entrepreneur makes their first sale, or a family simply spends a few meaningful hours together.
And sometimes, that’s where the real wonder begins.
Weekend of Wonder launches on Saturday, 19 September 2026, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Kensington Hall, Glendale International School, Dubai.
Register here : https://forms.gle/hGFzBhU9xFAbCpWq7 Or call on 056 768 7040
SOURCE: MEDIA RELEASE / SUPPLIED CONTENT WITH IMAGES
