Books. All of us who have been educated and brought up with books can relate to this feeling. The book and publishing industry is dwindling. Paperbacks are becoming digitized and electronically accessible and available. Libraries and bookstores are vanishing, and Smartphones, Pads, Tablets, and Kindles are taking over. Although both paperback books and electronically available books have their own set of advantages and disadvantages in areas of environmental, economic, and one’s health, a solution where both are made accessible and available would be a good idea.
There are many bookworms and children who would still have the same adoring nature and love towards all types and kinds of books. This love and nature towards books can be well developed into their adulthood. Like the philosopher, author, and journalist – Albert Camus, said – “The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself”, likewise, if there weren’t writers in the world, there wouldn’t be anything. No data and no record on any educational content. Books and stories make up a child’s life. They begin to dream, wish, and learn through stories. The wheels and wires in their brains start to move when free imagination and thought processes begin.
Creative learning, emotional intelligence, vocabulary, memory, critical thinking, understanding and discerning, bonding, focus, concentration, cognitive development, empathy, communication, and listening are some of the several advantages that books and stories bring to a child. There are various kind’s of children’s books – puzzle books, storybooks, moral books, etcetera. These are the words that children begin to hear when they start their education. Writing and selling books have been an age old approach in spreading word about words. Many book and publishing industries and retailers have profited from their businesses by partnering up with globally famed writers and authors, movie directors and philosophers to get their words and writings across the globe, to offer literacy initiatives.
Therefore in this article, we will be sharing insights on one particular Middle Eastern company established in the United Arab Emirates. Founded by CEO – Asif Mugloo, Hekayati is an online retailing platform that sells personalized storybooks for children where each child is the hero, heroine, or main character in their own customized narratives. A tech startup recognizing that each child is unique, distinguished, sells these kind of books in Arabic and English on their online platform to celebrate children’s individuality with Hekayati – which is an arabic term translating to mean “My Stories”.
About the Trailblazing Entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of Hekayati – Asif Mugloo:
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Hekayati is Asif Mugloo. Founded in the year 2020 but launched the online platform in 2021, Asif Mugloo envisions a place that provides a present and a future for children with customized and personalized stories by boosting their morale, confidence, and learning.
“Make your child the hero of the story.” – Hekayati’s Motto.
Having a Master’s Degree in International Management, International Business and Management from the Oxford Brookes University, Asif has over 15 long years of experience and entrepreneurship work in business leadership roles and positions. A passionate, hard-working, selfless, committed entrepreneur, Asif has founded the 1st Arab Project platform of its kind in offering customized Arabic and English storybooks for children.
From being a Development Manager at Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) to Head of Partnerships at World Wildlife Fund, and from Head of Sustainability at Al-Futtaim to Co-founder of Al Derah Training and Education LLC., Asif finally founded Hekayati in 2020.
About HEKAYATI:
Founded in the year 2020 and launched in the year 2021, Asif Mugloo started Hekayati with the aim in empowering children, boost their self-confidence and self-esteem, increase their analytical thinking abilities, expand their imagination and vocabulary, and form strong meaningful bonds and communication skills with parents and families. Hekayati is established in Dubai Production City, Dubai, UAE.
Mission Statement – “To revolutionize children’s literature by transforming each story into a magical adventure, uniquely designed for every young reader.” – Asif Mugloo, Founder and CEO of Hekayati.
Since every child is unique, the storybooks are customized and personalized on the online platform. Making the purchase of any book is made easy and seamless on their online platform. The Parents just need to choose the themed storybook that their children would like best, Provide details of their children such as name, gender, and character, Access a previewed content directly and immediately for any future corrections, Provide a personalized message of your own words that you would like to be included into the storyline, and lastly Make the purchase by providing address confirmation and payment for the paperback copy to arrive at your home. The delivery is free of charge and can be ordered from anywhere and at anytime in the UAE.
By instilling Arab values and religious virtues in children as a form of educational learning, Hekayati provides these hardcover storybooks that establishes and presents itself as qualitative resources and thoughtful content. Asif Mugloo facilitates the approach in helping parents become closer and form deeper bonds with their children through Hekayati’s customized learning experiences so that children can feel special, loved, and excited just by sharing and bringing together moments where a reading practice and routine is formed everyday. This platform is backed by writers, parents, and a foundation where the mission is to – “make every child feel special”.