We all know the deal with the roads and traffic here in Kuwait. It can get pretty busy and pretty noisy out there, especially during peak times. Going to work in the morning is slowed dramatically by school traffic, and a weekend visit to your favorite eatery can be a long drawn out affair. So it should come as no surprise that when it comes to vehicles owned, Kuwaitis are ranked 1st in the Gulf and 6th internationally, with over 1 million cars owned in total in Kuwait. I can tell you’re not too shocked at these stats. Admit it, it’s OK, you’re amongst friends at bazaar!
But did you know what happens to the old tires of the cars here in Kuwait? Most of them end up in the ‘tire graveyard’. So imagine the environmental effect of 5,000,000-7,000,000 tires being thrown away, buried or burnt…annually! Tires are non-biodegradable, so no matter the type of disposal, are hazardous to the environment. The smoke and fumes from the burning causes toxic pollution, burying them is harmful to the earth and ground, and the ones that are simply thrown into a pile and left can collect dirt, rain water and more, and become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Thankfully, there is a company making a dent in this ecological issue. En-TIRE-ly Fun is the result of 31 students uniting under one vision, to fulfil their social responsibility toward the environment and society. These guys, paying their dues to the earth, are dedicated to recycling and repurposing used tires into the ‘The Multibase’, which is an environmentally friendly, entertaining, educational, reliable, safe and efficient 3-in-1 product targeted for families and children. This product literally takes old tires and transforms them into new toys.
En-TIRE-ly Fun is not only part of the small business class in Kuwait University, but is also part of INJAZ’s 12-week company program that they are participating in to compete against 7 other teams. Initially the team’s motivation was to get suitable grades for class and to do their best for the competition in June. Over the course of the company program, they became more attached to the project and became motivated to reach self-satisfaction. They all grew on an educational, professional and personal level, and The Multibase was born out of that hard work and team effort.
The Multibase is 100% recycled and allows children of all ages to use their energy in a fun and productive way by developing their creative and focusing skills. Most importantly, it educates children on the environmental dangers of the incorrect disposal of tires. It’s an all-in-one to keep the children busy, fit and allow them to learn at the same time. So what features does The Multibase include, exactly? Firstly, it acts as a white board, a surface for kids to draw and write on to develop their creative skills by identifying different colors to color with. En-TIRE-ly Fun also provides finger paints for children to leave their mark on the white-coated recycled tires. Atop this artistic area is a basketball hoop. As one can imagine, and with basketball being an active sport, this part keeps the kids fit and healthy, engages them in fun competition with their friends or siblings, and develops focusing skills. The Multibase is also movable and breaks apart, making it extremely easy to transport. Most importantly, it is educational because it raises the younger generation’s awareness of environmental hazards. The team know that every child is a different height, so with that in mind it can be accustomed to the height of 3 tires on top of each other, or 2 tires. All of this is at the fairly affordable price of 29 KWD.
The team has made public appearances on Al Watan TV and at school events, which raised awareness of the product to nurseries and families. Initially, their goal was to sell 32 units over the course of 4 weeks; however, by the second week they had sold double that goal. This included sales to nurseries in Kuwait, and in the Emirates.
For more information on the En-TIRE-ly Fun initiative, you can contact the team on 9730 6948, or find them on Instagram @entirely_fun.
