Virus: A curious guide for courageous kids

Sohaila Ahmed, Staff Reporter

Art Jameel, an independent organisation that supports arts, education and heritage in the Middle East and beyond, released on Tuesday “Corona Virus: A curious guide for courageous kids”, the first bilingual (Arabic/English) free guide on the health crisis for children.

It is produced in collaboration with the science association Pleiadi and the network of Italian Children’s Museums to encourage responsibility, curiosity, creativity and positivity in the younger generations, in light of the current challenges faced with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The guide is available online now and is free to download for readers across the Arab world and beyond, to be viewed on computers, i-pads, tablets, phones and, wherever possible or required, as a print resource.

Additionally, the health guide is a unique guide written by scientists, illustrated by artists and designed by museum educators to provide children and young readers relatable and clearly communicated facts about the virus.

The e-book acts as an essential tool that enables parents, guardians and teachers to communicate calmly and effectively the measures taken in cities around the world.

With its creative illustrations and friendly language, the guide successfully highlights precautionary steps children can take to stay healthy plus values of cooperation, unity and community building.

The project was first started by Italian science association Pleiadi and then endorsed and promoted by the Network of Museums for Italian Children. The guide is currently being translated into 30 languages and distributed to 50 countries.

With this collaboration, Art Jameel aims to make Corona Virus: A curious guide for courageous kids available to children, families, schools and creative institutions in the Arab world and beyond. Print copies will be made available in areas where print distribution is required and is possible.

Lucio Biondaro, Project Director at Pleiadi in Verona, Italy, stated that the free guide aims to deliver scientific information to a network of readers across the world.

“We want to teach all the children that we must be united, globally, to fight this virus. In our understanding, nothing quite like this project has been done before, and we wish the book every success across the Arab region.”