Teshkeel Teams with Avallain to Contribute Interactive Content to 'One Laptop Per Child' Project
KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait, Nov. 27, 2007 — Naif Al-Mutawa, CEO of Teshkeel Media Group, KSC, announced today that the company would collaborate with Avallain to contribute interactive artwork and design assets to the One Laptop Per Child project, which focuses on providing low-cost computers to children in the developing world.
(Image: http://www.pressreleaseheadlines.com/2007-Teshkeel2.jpg)
Artwork created by the illustrators of Teshkeel's original comic book series, THE 99, will be incorporated into Avallain interactive content and made available for download to each laptop. A tool will also be provided that will allow children who receive the computers to create their own comic stories and digital illustrations. "Teshkeel gave individual characters and illustrations for modification by kids," said Avallain's Ignatz Heinz. "Avallain will develop a variety of learning interactions based on its e-learning authoring software, the first being a comic builder with which kids can create their own stories using artwork similar to THE 99 characters," he added. The entire product is released for free use and modification under a so-called Creative Commons license.
As part of One Laptop Per Child's large-scale humanitarian effort to educate needy children, the interactive e-learning software will be made available to all participants in the One Laptop Per Child program. This ambitious program aims to provide laptop computers for underprivileged children in countries ranging from Argentina to Pakistan to Rwanda.
"One of the driving forces behind THE 99 – and Teshkeel as a whole – is the desire to influence children all over the world in a positive way," said Al-Mutawa. "That's why we're very excited to be joining with Avallain to take part in this innovative effort to supply kids in developing countries with the tools they need to get an education."
Today's announcement marks the first collaboration between Teshkeel, which publishes comics and other children's entertainment properties around the world, and Avallain, which provides e-learning services to customers internationally.
Founded by Chairman Emeritus of MIT's Media Lab, Nicholas Negroponte, One Laptop Per Child is a US-based non-profit organization that plans to provide their pioneering, highly efficient computers to governments around the world later this year.
About Teshkeel Media Group
Teshkeel Media Group, KSC (http://www.teshkeel.com) is one of the Middle East's leading developers of comic books, magazines, and other forms of children's entertainment. Based in Kuwait, and with offices in New York and Cairo, the company's mission is to fill a significant void in positive, high-quality children's content in the region, including in print and electronic media, film, and television. In addition to working with global publishers like DC, Marvel, and Archie Comics, Teshkeel also develops its own original character properties, including THE 99 (http://www.the99.org), an award-winning original superhero property based on Islamic culture and history, which debuted in June 2006.
About Avallain
With a passion for education, innovation and the potential of the Internet, Swiss-based Avallain AG (http://www.avallain.com) offers high-quality services and products for the most demanding challenges in e-learning. Avallain develops award-winning e-learning solutions for public and private clients with one simple goal: to create choice and unlock human potential.
Avallain services include the design and implementation of complex e-learning-systems and the development and provision of tools and software to create, maintain and publish interactive content and learning material. Avallain also offers customized solutions for the hosting of e-learning-systems, and provides organizations and institutions with consultancy and expertise internationally.
Media Contacts
Teshkeel Media Group, KSC
Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa
Tel: +965-961-8666 (Kuwait)
Tel: +1-917-689-8880 (New York)
E-mail: Email
Avallain AG
Enhancing Education
Ignatz Heinz
Tel: +41 71 450 06 85
E-mail: Email