The Kalimat Foundation for Children’s Empowerment’s ARA initiative, has distributed a total of 400 titles in audiobook, large-print and Braille formats across four schools in Jordan and to a number of entities dedicated to helping the blind and visually impaired.

The donation drive comes in line with the ARA’s vision to empower children with special needs and facilitate their access to knowledge.

The Sharjah delegation visited four centres of Al Diaa charity in Amman and were briefed about the services they provide to children with special needs. This initiative is expected to assist the academic pursuits of over 200 children, expand their knowledge and nurture their talents and expertise.

Amna Al Mazmi, Manager of Kalimat Foundation for Children’s Empowerment, pointed out that the knowledge acquired through books offer a safeguard against various challenging circumstances, which are far greater for children with who are blind or visually impaired.

She said, “Kalimat Foundation continues its humanitarian efforts to make books and knowledge more accessible to children from different backgrounds and age groups. Making learning resources readily available to blind and visually impaired children is a top priority for us. Our ongoing projects are focused on reaching out to them wherever they are, and providing them books in accessible formats.”

She added: “Our focus on visually impaired children stems from our belief that every child has the right to learn and grow fully through knowledge. Braille books are not easily available, and thus, Kalimat Foundation has made all possible efforts to produce rich titles in this format and ensure they reach their beneficiaries.”

Since its inception in April 2016, Kalimat Foundation has been engaged in an extensive programme of launching and implementing initiatives that facilitate the provision of public libraries and replenishing refugee camps with books. It seeks to give children in disadvantaged areas, access to sources of knowledge, in keeping with its dedication to ensuring every child’s right to read. KF believes in the positive impact of books on creating a future knowledge-based Arab generation, that has a broad understanding of its own and of global cultures.

Earlier, 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.