Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) | DEWA's Energy Conservation Mascots to be Introduced to the World at Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair 2009

Online Portal 'Splashy and Sparky Club' to be Launched The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced the launch of the 'Splashy and Sparky Club,' an online entertainment and education portal aimed at teaching children about energy conservation. 'Splashy' and 'Sparky' are the visual and verbal mnemonics and identities that represent 'water' and 'electricity'. The online portal will feature games designed to educate and entertain a young audience on how to preserve the earth's natural resources, as well as instill a culture of energy conservation in the youth. The launch of the online portal took place as part of DEWA's participation at the Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair 2009 (Character Dubai). Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Character Dubai is the dedicated trade event for production, marketing and licensing of cartoon characters, animation logos, films brands, as well as arts and design. The show will be held from 27 to 29 October 2009 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. It acts as a gateway to access the burgeoning animation, licensing, media, as well as the retail and publishing market in the Middle East and North Africa region. His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA, said:The launch of the Splashy and Sparky Club is a key milestone in our endeavour to engage children in our awareness campaigns. It comes from our knowledge that the time individuals, especially children, spend online is increasing exponentially. We subsequently, took a strategic decision to have a strong online presence and provide a comprehensive 'edutainment' experience. Abdulla Al Hajiri, Acting Executive Vice President, Customer Service, DEWA, said:The debut appearance of Splashy and Sparky, at the Dubai International Character and Licensing Fair, will highlight Dubai's singular focus on conservation to a wider global audience. The event is a vital industry platform to introduce DEWA's own mascots and invite everyone to learn more about their roles. Amal Koshak, Senior Manager , Demand and Tariff Management, DEWA, added: Splashy and Sparky were created in 2001 with the sole purpose of teaching children the importance of energy conservation through an enjoyable and informative process. Even though this is a challenging exercise, we have received an overwhelming response from children who have responded positively to the characters. Vital components of DEWA's overall strategy, we are delighted to showcase the two animation characters to global industry leaders at this event. In addition to focusing on educational institutions, DEWA has been spearheading the drive for the rationalization of electricity and water usage through a series of seminars, workshops and integrated communications aimed at government entities, organizations and hotels.