Culture & Education | Friday 26 May, 2017 2:39 pm |

“The need for refugee children to acquire knowledge and culture should be considered as a necessary right just as much as the need for shelter, food and water,” said Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Chairperson of Kalimat Foundation for Children's Empowerment (KF), during her visit to the Emirati-Jordanian Refugee Camp at Mrajeeb Al Fhood in Al Zarqa - Jordan.

 

“Acquiring knowledge through reading is one of the most important ways a child can secure for themselves a safer and more peaceful future. In the conditions that these children are living, reading is an act that helps them to come to terms with their reality. The right books can help them shape the future of their country, as they will be inspired by the history of its civilisation. Children are tomorrow’s generation and they need to lead the revival of their nations,” said Sheikha Bodour.

 

Sheikha Bodour’s statement was made in the presence of Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council during the delegation’s visit to the Emirati-Jordanian Camp. Also present were HE Abdullah Al Mahrazi, Director of the camp; Amani Al Ali, Director of the Executive Office of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi; Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of the UAE Board on Books for Young People and Amna Al Mazmi, Manager of KF.

 

In line with the UAE’s 2017 ‘Year of Giving’, as declared by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Kalimat Foundation distributed 1,000 books to the refugee children at the camp, as part of the ‘Libraries in Need’ programme implemented by KF, which aims to create an environment of peace and security for children, allowing them the freedom of thought and creativity through books that inculcate true human values.

 

Sheikha Bodour highlighted that the initiative has been enacted to encourage children to read, think and create; thereby equipping them with the skills they need to build a better and safer future for themselves.

 

“The role of books in refugee children’s lives is equivalent to the role of nations. It’s an integral responsibility where through books, children can expand their wisdom and imagination, to lead a life that is founded on love and peace. Reading enables children to visualise the good in life, and helps them live the spirit of innocence within themselves. Through books, they can overcome life’s pains and create hopes and ambitions to live their dreams,” said Sheikha Bodour.

 

As part of the visit, KF organised a number of fun activities inspired by the atmosphere of the holy month of Ramadan, where children drew on the walls of the library and on bags distributed to them by the foundation. The children also engaged in a workshop where they learned how to make Ramadan lanterns and decorated books in an artistic manner that portrayed their dreams.

 

During her visit, Sheikha Bodour read ‘Seller of Dreams’ story to children who gathered in a circle around her, where she took them on a journey to the colour worlds and balloons, to give them hope for a better future and inspire them to seek knowledge and education to rebuild their country.   

 

In June 2014, Sheikha Bodour launched the ‘Reading to Syria’s Children’ initiative in the Emirati-Jordanian Camp in collaboration with the UAE Board on Books for Young People and Knowledge without Borders. While there she opened a 3,000-book children’s library, named ‘The Big Heart Library.’

 

The initiative also saw the distribution of gifts and toys to refugee children and the implementation of a range of ongoing events, such as training workshops on reading therapy with the participation of teachers and parents of children living in the camp.  A number of reading sessions, cultural events and entertainment activities were also organised.

 

Launched in April 2016, KF strives to ensure the fundamental right of every child to read. It works to promote the idea that improving access to literature and encouraging children to pick up books is the best way to develop their mental and social capacities and ultimately improve society. Believing in the direct impact of books on the bringing up of future generations, the foundation works to facilitate access of books to public libraries, refugee camps and to enable children in underprivileged areas to acquire knowledge.

KF embraces the issues of refugee children affected by armed conflicts and disasters, as well as the particular reading requirements of non-sighted and visually impaired children. The foundation follows the vision of the UAE, in particular Sharjah, for supporting the peoples of sisterly and friendly countries and contributing to promoting the awareness of communities of the need to create a better future for children.