Fintech PR
World’s first computer-themed playground to open in Helsinki – children learn about technology through play
HELSINKI, Sept. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — What is thought to be the world’s first computer-themed playground will be inaugurated on 1 October 2024 in the Ruoholahti district of Helsinki. The playground is designed by children’s author Linda Liukas together with the landscape architecture office Näkymä Oy. In the new playground, children can get to know the world of computers and programming through play, and without digital devices. Helsinki is investing in the wellbeing of children, and the city was recently recognised by UNICEF as a Child Friendly City.
“It’s exciting to design a playground for children, for whom play often means a computer game instead of a sandbox. The new playground offers something new for this generation. In the digital world, children are users, but in the playground, they are creators. I hope that Ruoholahti Playground will become an attractive place for children of many ages, where they can also learn about technology while playing,” says Linda Liukas, the head designer of the playground. Linda Liukas is known for her Hello Ruby story books, which teach coding to children.
The new bespoke playground equipment includes, for example, a computer tower, keyboard stairs and a sandbox in the shape of a game console controller. In the playground, children can create their own TikTok dances or learn to write their name using binary numbers – without phones. Educational material for visiting groups has been created for the playground that combines colouring pictures, tasks, technology games and audio contents. The material can be downloaded free of charge from the playground’s website. The playground’s unique equipment has been made by award-winning Danish playground equipment manufacturer Monstrum.
Designer Linda Liukas is happy for the new playground. Photo: Leena Karppinen, Helsinki Partners
Wishes of users taken into account in the design of the playground
The new playground has been designed in close collaboration with pedagogical experts. Users of the playground in the neighbourhood, local children, and educators were also consulted.
For the playground’s lighting, special attention was paid to the changing seasons, as Helsinki’s playgrounds are heavily used even in the dark winter and rainy autumn. In Finland, playgrounds are used in all weathers and all year round. The green areas in the new playground include a diversity and pollinator-themed educational planting area with information boards.
Computer-theme suites especially well to Ruoholahti, as it is home to many international ICT companies. Photo: Sakari Röyskö, City of Helsinki
Recognised by UNICEF as a Child Friendly City, Helsinki Celebrates 110 Years of Playgrounds
Helsinki is the first Nordic capital to be recognised by UNICEF as a Child Friendly City. The recognition is awarded to cities whose activities and development work promote the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“As recently outlined in our new architecture programme, we are committed to recognising the important role of architecture and landscape design in creating good urban life. Fostering child-friendly design is a key part of this work, and the Ruoholahti playground is a great example of what can be done,” says Chief Design Officer Hanna Harris.
The history of playgrounds in Helsinki stretches back 110 years. The decision to locate the new computer-themed playground in Ruoholahti was made because the area is home to many international ICT companies and an old Nokia factory that today functions as a cultural centre. In this way, children get to know the world that surrounds them in a new way.
When selecting the location of future theme playgrounds, the character of the neighbourhood is taken into account along with convenient public transport connections. Helsinki’s playgrounds offer a variety of activities, from family activities in the morning to club activities for school children in the afternoon, as well as free meals offered to everyone under the age of 16 in summertime. Helsinki’s playgrounds are open to everyone, and both locals and visitors, children and adults, are welcome to play there.
More information:
Leena Karppinen
Senior Manager, PR & Communications
Helsinki Partners
[email protected]
Linda Liukas
Linda Liukas is an author, illustrator and educator from Helsinki, Finland. With her Hello Ruby children’s picture book series and philosophy, she brings a Nordic playful perspective to the sometimes serious world of computer science. Translated into nearly 40 languages, Hello Ruby books ask: what else is there to technology education than “Learn to code”? If computer code is the Lego block of our time – a tool of creation – how do we teach curiosity, joy, and wonder to our kids? http://lindaliukas.com/
Playgrounds
Helsinki has a city-wide network of around 60 year-round playgrounds that offer a wide range of services to residents of different ages in their local neighbourhoods. Playgrounds that are open to all, free of charge and professionally managed are, to this extent, a uniquely Helsinki phenomenon, the result of 110 years of ambitious development work. Read more: https://www.hel.fi/en/childhood-and-education/playgrounds-and-family-houses
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com.
The following files are available for download:
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Linda Liukas author of Hello Ruby books |
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Ruoholahti Playground computer tower |
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Linda Liukas |
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Ruoholahti Playground from above |
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Ruoholahti playground |
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Fintech PR
Wahed appoints Khalid Al Jassim as Executive Chairman of Wahed MENA to help guide the strategic growth of Wahed in the region
DOHA, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Wahed, a global Shariah-compliant fintech, has appointed Khalid Al Jassim as Chairman of Wahed MENA.
On this appointment, Khalid commented, ”I am excited to guide Wahed’s growth in the region. Wahed’s mission of furthering Islamic Finance is one I resonate with deeply and I look forward to supporting its growth ambitions.”
Khalid has over twenty five years of investment banking and corporate advisory experience gained with some of the most innovative and groundbreaking institutions in the world.
His career spans leading firms including SABIC, Arthur Anderson and Arcapita Bank in Bahrain, where he was instrumental in making it into one of the PE powerhouses in the region. His responsibilities started in the earlier years with establishing the Investment Placement Team and transforming it into one of the most robust teams in the industry. At the time that Khalid left Arcapita to build his personal business, he was an Executive Director. Today he is Chairman of Afkar Vision, a private advisory house specialized in mergers and acquisitions with offices in Manama, Dubai and Riyadh.
As well as being one of the earliest investors in Wahed, he is currently Chairman of the Audit Committee and Board Member at Bahrain Islamic Bank, the 4th oldest Islamic Bank in the World and Board Member at SICO Bank and SICO Capital in Saudi, an $8bn asset manager in the region.
Mohsin Siddiqui, Wahed CEO said, “We are delighted to announce Khalid’s appointment. His unique understanding of the financial landscape in the MENA region is unparalleled and we are excited to bring this expertise in continuing to grow our presence in the region.”
About Wahed
Founded in 2015, Wahed is a financial technology company that is advancing financial inclusion through accessible, affordable, and values-based investing. The company has made significant inroads in the world Shariah compliant investing by creating an easy-to-use digital platform that provides a suite of Shariah compliant investing products including managed portfolios and venture and real estate investments. Wahed caters to over 400,000 customers globally and manages over $ 1 billion in assets.
For more information, visit: www.wahed.com
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2566076/Wahed_MENA_Khalid_Al_Jassim.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wahed-appoints-khalid-al-jassim-as-executive-chairman-of-wahed-mena-to-help-guide-the-strategic-growth-of-wahed-in-the-region-302314779.html
DOHA, Qatar, Nov. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Qatar Development Bank (QDB) announces a strategic investment in Wahed, a global Shariah-compliant fintech.
Wahed currently manages over $1 billion in assets and has attracted over 400,000 clients worldwide. The company is built on the principles of democratizing access to financial services and offers clients access to Shariah-compliant investments in its mobile app. Wahed removes the barriers to sophisticated investment management services that have been traditionally reserved for high-net-worth investors.
Khalid Al Jassim, Executive Chairman of Wahed MENA said: ‘We are delighted to welcome our new shareholders, QDB. We believe Qatar is fully aligned with our mission in creating a technology-first Islamic finance leader that unlocks a financial ecosystem free from Riba. We look forward to supporting the Qatar National Vision 2030 of becoming a leading knowledge-based economy.
Ali Rahimtula, Partner at Cue Ball Capital said: “Qatar Development Bank’s strategic investment is a clear signal of the faith the industry has in Wahed and its ability to create the future of Islamic Finance.”
About Wahed
Founded in 2015, Wahed is a financial technology company that is advancing financial inclusion through accessible, affordable, and values-based investing. The company has made significant inroads in the world Shariah compliant investing by creating an easy-to-use digital platform that provides a suite of Shariah compliant investing products including managed portfolios and venture and real estate investments. Wahed caters to over 400,000 customers globally and manages over $ 1 billion in assets.
For more information, visit: www.wahed.com
About Qatar Development Bank
Qatar Development Bank’s mission is to advance the economic and innovation development cycle of Qatar, supporting and contributing to the nation’s economic diversification. As well as a focus on the development of Qatar’s private sector, QDB is a powerful catalyst for socio-economic development in the country, empowering the local economy and bettering living standards.
For more information, visit: https://www.qdb.qa/
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/qatar-development-bank-announces-strategic-investment-in-global-islamic-fintech-wahed-302314778.html
DHAKA, Bangladesh, Nov. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — With the popularity of electric vehicles in Bangladesh, the globally renowned AIMA brand has also arrived in Bangladesh. The esteemed DX Group has brought the AIMA F-626 to customers. This environmentally friendly battery-operated electric motorbike has already been approved by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) now.
In light of the increasing popularity of electric motorcycles in the country, the internationally-leading brand AIMA has entered the market. By the end of 2023, AIMA electric two-wheelers had established a presence in over 50 countries worldwide, with 11 global production bases, including overseas factories in Indonesia and Vietnam. In 2022, AIMA collaborated with Rob Janoff, the designer of the Apple logo, to refresh the brand’s VI system with a youthful and fashionable image. In 2023, AIMA teamed up with PANTONE, the global authority in color expertise, to create the trending color of the year. As an industry leader, AIMA spearheads the electric two-wheeler sector and showcases the prowess of a leading electric two-wheeler brand on a global scale. As of March 31, 2024, AIMA’s total electric two-wheeler sales had reached 80 million units, earning certification from Frost & Sullivan, a globally recognized business growth consulting firm, as the “Global Leading Electric Two-wheeler Brand”.
Over the years, AIMA has always been a product trendsetter in the electric two-wheeler sector. As of March 31, 2024, the total sales volume of AIMA electric two-wheelers reached 80 million, and Frost & Sullivan, a world-renowned market consulting company, awarded AIMA with the market status certification of the “Global Leading Electric Two-wheeler Brand (by Sales)”.
AIMA adhere to the customer-centered product philosophy and technologies that support long-term innovation and breakthroughs. We believe that the efficiency and modern technology of the AIMA F-626 will present an excellent alternative means of communication for our customers.
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2557788/image.jpg
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Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2449955/5026987/AIMA_Technology_Logo.jpg
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/chinas-aima-brand-electric-motorbike-is-now-in-bangladesh-302314773.html
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