Where children once dreamt of simple pleasures like visiting their grandmother’s house, sleeping under the stars, and winning school competitions, today these dreams are often shaped by advanced technology – from fifth-generation PlayStations to smartwatches – creating a sense of alienation and a gap between generations.

During Qatar Foundation’s inaugural BilAraby Summit – a platform for amplifying ideas, stories, and voices in the Arabic language, which took place this week – a talk by Dr. Abdulwahed Zainel, founder of Camel Code­_, addressed this issue, saying: “Like many parents, I dream of making a difference in my children’s lives. And to do so, I need to understand their reality, and the challenges and opportunities around them.

“The truth we, as parents, must face is that today’s generation is different from the previous one.”

Dr. Zainel explained that in the past, parents and grandparents feared contagious diseases, but today, the threats are different – creeping silently into the minds and lives of children.

“They now spend long hours in front of screens,” he said. “As a doctor, I’ll tell you some of the consequences of this: impaired emotional and auditory development, insomnia and various other sleep disorders, increased obesity rates, mental health issues and early-onset depression.”

Exploring ways of protecting children from the adverse effects of technology, Dr. Zainel explained that everyone should take responsibility of the wellbeing of their children. He suggested not applying rigid and extreme solutions – such as taking away all digital items from children – as this tends to worsen the issue rather than solving it given that technology is everywhere. Instead, he advocated for alternative approaches that keep children engaged with technology in a wise and responsible manner. 

“Centers and academies that teach programming and 3D printing are effective solutions,” he said. “They enable our children to use technology as a tool for problem-solving, creativity, and innovation – not just as a source of entertainment.

“And it was from this perspective that the idea of a real project to teach children programming began to take shape. What inspired me the most to start this project was that my own children would be its first beneficiaries. 

“Eventually, we named the project Camel Code_, as the camel symbolizes strength, patience, and the ability to adapt to harsh conditions. These are the same qualities parenthood demands as we face its challenges and responsibilities.”

Dr. Zainel said that, as a camel’s footsteps are slow and steady along a rugged path, “We built our curriculum from scratch rather than relying on others, in order to preserve our Arab and Islamic identity.

“I later realized that technology is not the real enemy. It is the purpose and the way in which we use technology.”

For more information about BilAraby, a QF initiative, please visit: https://bilaraby.qa/en/summit