AMMAN, Jordan, (Pakistan Point News - 08th Apr, 2019) The Kalimat Foundation for Children’s Empowerment, KF donated seven hundred books in Arabic to seven schools in Jordan, as part of the "Pledge a library" initiative that provides books to children and public and school libraries in underprivileged communities worldwide.
The KF donated 500 books provided by the Sharjah Media Council, SMC, to five schools in the presence of Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of the SMC, and Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Vice-president of the International Publishers Association, IPA, and Founder and Chairperson of the KF.
The KF also distributed 200 books to two schools in the capital Amman and the Dead Sea region. The titles were selected to suit the needs of students based on their age and educational levels.
The visit to Al Sawaed School for Orphans in the Al Baqaa Refugee Camp, and Swaima Mixed School - Dead Sea, was attended by Hassan Yacoub Al Mansouri, Secretary-General, Sharjah Media Council; Other who visited the schools were Dr. Khalaf Al Hashoush, Director of education in Al Shunna District, Jordan, Aidy Arginal, Director of International Relief and Development Organisation in Jordan, Siraj Al-Hamoud, Camp Manager at the International Relief and Development Organisation in Jordan, and Amna Al Mazmi, Manager of Kalimat Foundation for Children’s Empowerment.
Sheikh Sultan emphasised that the cultural efforts undertaken by Sharjah in neighbouring countries are in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to provide sources of knowledge to all members of the community, especially the young generations trapped in conflicts and hard living conditions with minimal or no access to books.
Sheikha Bodour lauded the support of Sharjah Media Council and other bodies from the private and public sectors to the ‘Pledge a Library’ initiative. She said, "Displaced Arab families, especially children, are subject to harsh living conditions and insecurity they don’t deserve. The lack of access to educational and other knowledge-building resources is a huge concern. To Sharjah, these are considered the cornerstone of human development – we must cultivate a future generation aware of their culture and the issues that concern us."
The beneficiary schools from ‘Pledge a Library’ initiative included Maria Coptic School – Amman; Um Zwaitienyeh School – Amman; Al Sawaed School for Orphans - Al Baqaa Refugee Camp, and Swaima Mixed School - Dead Sea; Al-Shuna Al Janubeyeh Mixed Elementary School – Dead Sea; Al Khansaa Mixed Elementary School – Dead Sea, and Hai Al Sarahdeh Mixed Elementary School – Dead Sea.
KF launched the ‘Pledge a Library’ initiative during its participation in the 36th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair 2017. It has received support by several prominent government and private organisations in Sharjah, such as the Sharjah Media Council, Sharjah Book Authority, Sharjah Islamic Bank, Sharjah Ladies Club, Knowledge without Borders, the ‘1001 Titles’ initiative, the UAE board on Books for Young People, and other establishments and personalities.
