SAF Organises EXCURSION: Scavenger Hunt

Overview

Forty eager workshop participants, both children and adults, gathered together on Saturday, July 30th to join a lively scavenger hunt at Souq Al Jubail in Sharjah. Part of the Sharjah Art Foundation Urban Garden programme, the workshop entitled EXCURSION: Scavenger Hunt sent participants divided into small groups on a quest to find items related to food and food sellers. Embarking on this educational adventure in the heart of Sharjah’s vibrant fruit and vegetable market, participants concentrated on developing the negotiation, trading and teamwork skills needed to get the job done.

Spotting the items on the list and documenting the search were demanding tasks. Not only did the participants have to locate objects and people such as khalas dates, fruit imported from Pakistan, five fruits containing seeds, a shopkeeper named Abdullah and someone wearing red, but they were also required to provide proof for locating the listed items by collecting them, photographing them or even exchanging them for a currency that they had to invent, for example, drawings, letters, thank-you cards and candy. Despite the challenging nature of the tasks, participants and even shopkeepers in the souq were very enthusiastic. Some shopkeepers, having been notified about the scavenger hunt before the event, went out of their way to engage in the activity along with the participants. Regular Souq Al Jubail shoppers were attracted by all the activity as well and followed the progress of the participants with interest. After the hunt was completed, the competing groups reassembled to compare what they had found and determine the winner.

All Sharjah Art Foundation Urban Garden workshops aim to encourage ongoing interaction and collaboration between the community and the Foundation. The SAF Urban Garden, intended as a collective space, provides a social learning site and opportunities for enjoyable and creative garden-related activities. The SAF Urban Garden workshops for families, children aged 7+ and interested individuals will continue into autumn 2016