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delicious cake and coffee (supplied by Orbis Coffee, one with new ones to build even greater ideas for the future.
of the first boutique roasters in the Middle East!). It’s also What has all of this taught her? “People love to be around
a great setting for the Mawaheb students to practice their people of determination,” she says, “but we still have to bring
social and communication skills by working and exercising a lot of awareness about them worldwide. It would be a dream
the basics of hospitality. At the warehouse area next door, to replicate Mawaheb. Abu Dhabi would be a good start, and
the Mawaheb students will work under the supervision of then maybe India.”
professional teachers and through the medium of art, yoga When asked about all that’s to come, Wemmy says she
and dance on their life skills, communication and social and Mawaheb have more to do. She wants to connect with
skills. Wemmy says the team’s got plenty of activities schools and institutions that are working with and for people
planned for the new year including soap making and basket of determination to learn and discuss best practices: “We’re
weaving courses. They’re also inviting experts to give talks all working on an island, and I would like the Mawaheb
on important subjects, for example, workshops related to community cafe to be a place where we can share our knowl-
people of determination, health, nutrition and more. There edge and inspire each other.” Shifting her gaze to the world,
will be afterschool sessions, and all content will be available Wemmy says she hopes to inspire people at an international
for the determined community as well as to the public. level to get in touch with their local communities and iden-
Some of Wemmy’s favorite moments at Mawaheb are in- tify their own ways to engage with people of determination.
teractions with the students. “I love the morning sessions “Try to find a cafe in your neighborhood where you will be
with the yoga or dance classes. The energy and happiness served by people of determination,” she recommends, “your
you feel in the early morning is something you won’t find coffee will taste much better!”
at other places,” she reflects. There isn’t a regular day-to-
day for Wemmy at the studio, but she does meet each
student to see how they are doing every morning. With
the leadership team, it’s important for all instructors to get
together daily to discuss the program and important issues
related to the students. As the Mawaheb brand grows,
there’s been a lot of interest from people looking for vol-
To get in touch, follow Wemmy and the Mawaheb Dubai team
unteer positions these days, but Wemmy makes sure to at @mawahebdubai on Instagram and MawahebDubai
always check in with her existing partners while meeting on Facebook. New official website to come shortly.

To amplify the work of its students, Mawaheb has hosted Sheikh Mohammed, there’s been various redevelopment works
several exhibits throughout the city and has partnered with in progress to establish a new creative zone in Al Quoz. The zone
local companies to bring collections to a variety of commercial aims to attract both regional and international audiences to the
spaces like the Dubai Airport (DXB), Mall of the Emirates, and area and encourage artists to live, work and exhibit there as part
the Dutch airline company KLM’s regional office, to name a few. of efforts to further engage the community. Mawaheb’s new
The studio is also proud to have nurtured young artists, some location will be in the center of this cultural and innovation hub,
of whom have held independent shows and earned their own thus making Al Quoz the perfect place to align with local society
workspace in galleries around town. Wemmy is overjoyed to and inspire everyone to seek equality, acceptance, and inclusion.
have seen change in all the students as many people go on to Plus, the neighborhood is more central and comes with a bonus:
achieve great success beyond Mawaheb: “Two of our students it has better access to convenient parking.
are solo artists and earn their money through art. Four students At Mawaheb, everyone and anyone is welcome. The team
are working in a hotel and 2 of them even lived in the hotel greets all visitors with open arms, a smile, and a hug – pre-
apartment pre-COVID. This is inclusion at its best!” Then there COVID of course. It’s been eye-opening for many people who
are students who, after experimenting with yoga at Mawaheb, stumble into the space, Wemmy says, as they are touched by
now leverage yoga to deal with pain or stress. Others have tak- not only the positivity and warmth of the waiters, but also the
en their learnings to world stages, such as becoming motivation- beautiful artwork and inviting atmosphere. So, there was no
al speakers at global events like the 2020 Expo in Dubai. For the doubt that the revival of Mawaheb deserved an even bigger
reopening of Mawaheb in early 2022, Wemmy has her sights set space to embrace even more artwork and talent. It will also
on a larger space in a brand-new facility of the Al Quoz neigh- consist of a 3,000-sqft community cafe, twice the size of its
borhood called GC Avenue. Since the announcement in 2019 predecessor, where the community can participate in workshops,
of Dubai’s new vision for culture approved by His Highness learn from each other, and meet up for leisure or work to enjoy Frida Kahlo by artist Namrata

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