Meet HIJAZ BLAQ | Founder kikaocultures.com

We had the good fortune of connecting with HIJAZ BLAQ and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi HIJAZ, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I’m a Young Global Citizen born in Nairobi, Kenya. I am 12 years old. I am the founder of kikaocultures.com. I am a Change maker. An agent for Sustainability. A Global Goals Advocate.

I come from a Family of Global Citizens. I am the daughter of Edutainment Director, Mr. Blaq Deen.

I am the youngest Diana Award Recipient in Africa and the fourth youngest recipient in the world in 2023 – https://diana-award.org.uk/our-programmes-and-initiatives/award-and-development/roll-of-honour/roll-of-honour-2023

I am who i am who i am today because of the dedication, support from my parents and my brother , Fardeen Blaq. My mentors and educators and the rest of the Team at kikaocultures.com

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a champion for the Global Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs). I set up Kikao Cultures program to make sure that together with my peers aged 7-17 years old we learn about the SDGs through Project Based Learning.

I don’t work alone, I work with my brother Fardeen Blaq. The youngest Diana Award Recipient in Africa in 2020- https://diana-award.org.uk/our-programmes-and-initiatives/award-and-development/roll-of-honour/roll-of-honour-2020.
He motivates me to be a better person. It was pretty easy for me to set up the program because of long time relationships that my father and my Team at Kikao Cultures have built over the years.

As Kikao Cultures, we hold our in-person classes at the Ozone Trampoline Park at the Village Market Mall in Nairobi where we play and and learn about the SDGs. These experiences are fantastic!

I am implementing Project Based Learning in our classes at the Ozone Trampoline Park at The Village Market. PBL works! Every child is welcome to join us. I am learning on the fun way and it is easy to remember.

I have learnt the importance of living the SDGs lifestyle. Together let us power the planet and Leave No One behind. Meet me at the Green Village and The Ozone Trampoline Park while in Nairobi. Join the Kikao Cultures Fun Club wherever you are in the world. Together let us build the world we want to see by creating a ripple effect that affects everyone.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Welcome to my world. The world of Fun and Learning at The Village Market Mall.

Always my friends and the friends of my country hang around with me.

We are always at the Ozone Trampoline Park,or Under the Sea, Bowling or eating or playing Pool at the BallPoint. We also do virtual racing at the Rev or Play VR Games at Glitch.
There is a large variety of activities at the Village Market Mall where my friends and i go from shopping to playing to eating and hanging out.

This is an experience that you will never forget!! How can you forget if you are learning at the same time?

If you get tired and you want to sleep, there is plenty of Room at The Trademark Hotel or the Tribe Hotel both within the Village Market Complex.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shout out to a Global Citizen Visionary, Mr. Blaq – My father My Brother Fardeen Blaq implementing Global Goal 17 Partnership for the Goals and My mum who is a Global Citizen espousing the rights of women – Mrs. Zaynn Blaq. And the rest of the Kikao Cultures Team.

Also a special mention to the Global Goals for giving us the gift to share the knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals to our Peers. Thank you Mr. Jakob Trollbäck and the entire team including Therese Aziz.

I also want to mention my mentors Jacob Mendelsohn, Juli Shivley, Mårt Aro, Hector Grimaldo, David and Luz. And All our partners and Enablers of the Kikao Cultures program including The Village Market Family Recreation Centre.

Also Global Citizen for making sure that the dreams of many to get our of extreme poverty is realized. Thank you Hugh Evans, Hugh Jackman, Michael Sheldrick and the entire team for making it all possible!

Not forgetting the patrons of school i attend Sunrise Children’s Garden School – Dr. and Mrs Gitau
Thank you for creating a foundation from which my future is growing.

Website: kikaocultures.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kikaocultures/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KikaoCultures

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kikaocultures/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kikaocultures/videos

Other: https://villagemarket-kenya.com/

Image Credits
Kikao Cultures, Fardeen Productions, The Village Market Mall