UAEBBY kindles reading spirit among schoolchildren in Casablanca

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) concluded its participation in the International Children’s and Young People’s Book Fair, the largest and most important in Morocco and North Africa, held recently in Casablanca.

Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of the UAEBBY, participated in a dialogue session on reading experiences among children and youngsters, during which she reviewed the UAE’s efforts to encourage reading through the board’s initiatives and projects.

The Morocco Board on Books for Young People’s establishment yielded in the wake of the first Arab regional meeting of the International Board on Books for Young People, held by the UAE Council on Books for Young People last May in Sharjah, to expand the Arab presence in the International Board.

A delegation from the UAEBBY visited Moulay Ismail School in the city of Sefrou, where it presented the school children with 1,000 books in Arabic and French as part of the "Kan Yama Kan” initiative.

The International Book Fair for Children and Youth in Casablanca witnessed the participation of 255 exhibitors from 33 countries, including many cultural, artistic, and entertainment events and dialogue sessions.

Earlier this year, the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) curated a collection of 200 Arabic books for children and young adults, presenting them to two influential libraries in Seoul that cater to Arabic readers in the city. The goal is to inspire young readers and foster a passion for reading, learning, and expanding knowledge. The gifted books also provide researchers and translators with access to a remarkable selection of outstanding works by specialised children’s literature writers and talented illustrators.

As part of its participation in the Sharjah Guest of Honour programme at the 65th edition of the Seoul International Book Fair, UAEBBY gifted 100 titles authored by Emirati and Arab writers to the ‘National Library for Children and Young Adults’ which is the largest public library dedicated to this age group of readers in Korea. An additional 100 titles were donated to the ‘Baraka Little Library’ through the UAEBBY’s “Kan Yama Kan’’ initiative. The Baraka Little Library was established in 2018 as a safe space for refugee mothers and children, and serves as a beacon of knowledge for refugee readers in Korea, providing them with invaluable resources in their challenging circumstances. Through UAEBBY’s initiative, the council seeks to provide learning and reading opportunities for children and young adults in countries affected by crises and disasters, often confronted with harsh conditions.

Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of UAEBBY, said: “We believe that reading is the foundation of learning and personal development. It contributes to expanding knowledge, creativity, and openness to diverse cultures. Therefore, we strive to provide books that touch on the interests, needs, and aspirations of children and young adults, providing them with the skills and values that enable them to participate in building a better future for themselves and their communities.”