Story

 “The first time I ever attended a World Economic Forum I was so in awe of the world’s top business leaders and realised that dinner discussions all led to how stressful their lifestyle and work were and how much it was affecting their lives. From this moment on, I constantly focused all my projects on the ‘nurturing’ aspect and adding value to each person's spirit.

 

The homes and communities I have come to know and to build have been just about that - creating spaces that nurture you, encourage a certain way of life and incorporate nature.  It was only a natural evolution that this obsession with nurturing turned to where my children would go to preschool. I didn’t want a pressured environment that is purely about the academics but left them unhappy.

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After visiting a Waldorf school, I was immediately struck by how the children were all so confident, looked you in the eye and seemed so comfortable in their own skin but still had a rigorous learning environment. I wanted that for my children; somewhere that looked at education holistically, because yes, the academics are important but so is being comfortable in your skin and learning to relate to others and nature.”

 

Nadia Zaal
CEO, Zaya Living & Al Barari

Founder, Zaya Early Learning
 

Vision

​To pioneer an educational shift in the UAE, with a movement towards creative, progressive and cooperative learning programs, with an emphasis on developmentally appropriate classroom and practical experiences.
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​Mission

​We strive to bring Waldorf inspired education to Dubai, so that it’s children and their families may benefit from the nurturing, child-centered, holistic pedagogy derived from the insights of the philosopher Rudolf Steiner. In an effort to remain authentic to our Waldorf inspired ethos we will also strive to stimulate the child’s natural curiosity in the world around them, while ensuring quality education and school readiness remains our priority. 

 

Values

Respect: We deliberately and consciously cultivate an attitude of tolerance and respect as the basis for all interactions. The connection and collaboration that comes from this nurtures individual and community well-being, within which every student unfolds in utmost love and care.

Imagination & Creativity: We believe that young children are in the stage of their lives where their imagination is most active. Whether in science or geography, maths or languages, artistic activities create interest, encourage broader critical thinking skills, to be utilized as they mature.

Authenticity & Purposefulness: Students learn best when their feelings and their thinking are fully engaged. Children will learn through experience.

Inclusion: We believe that all children are born with different gifts, and that every child deserves to have people invest in their full capacities. When children are taught to reach for nothing less than the stars, their expectations of themselves will always strive for the best, no matter their physical or cognitive obstacles. When children are educated and raised in a non-discriminatory and inclusive environment their value others increases.

 

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