Bodour seeks to empower kids to chase their dreams against odds

Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Chairperson of Kalimat Foundation (KF), presided over the foundation’s second Board of Trustees meeting at Najd Al-Maqsar in Khorfakkan, which was held to highlight its accomplishments this year.

The meeting also outlined Kalimat Foundation’s 2025 strategy, which is geared towards furthering the non-profit’s global cultural and humanitarian impact in providing more young Arab refugees worldwide quality educational and literary materials in Arabic language as well as providing blind and visually impaired readers materials in diverse accessible formats.

The meeting was attended by members of the KF Board: Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Vice-President; Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Treasurer and Head of Partners and Funding Committee; Sheikha Shamma Bint Sultan Al Nahyan, Head of Awareness and Advocacy Committee; Noura Bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Secretary General; Dr. Muhadditha Al Hashimi; Mohamed Abdalla; and Fuad Mansoor Sharaf, Head of Programmes and Events Committee.

Sheikha Shamma Bint Sultan Al Nahyan

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi set the tone for the meeting with an inspiring address that emphasised the Foundation’s indispensable role in today’s challenging world. “The struggles faced by many communities today make the KF’s mission more vital than ever,” she remarked. “Through the provision of books and reading opportunities to children in difficult circumstances, we are doing far more than imparting knowledge; we are instilling hope and shaping a brighter future. Our commitment is to empower them to rise above adversity and chase their dreams, no matter the odds.”

Reflecting on the Foundation’s remarkable strides over the past year, the Chairperson celebrated its far-reaching impact. “2024 has been a year of meaningful progress,” she noted. “Our programmes have touched the lives of thousands of children globally, and we have fortified partnerships with organisations dedicated to ensuring that books are accessible to visually disabled children.”

Looking ahead, she said, “Our strategies for 2025 are ambitious. We’re determined to expand and refine our efforts to bring real and lasting improvements to the lives of Arab children across the globe.”

2024 achievements

During the meeting, the Board reviewed KF’s achievements in 2024, particularly under its Pledge a Library initiative, which provides forcibly displaced children with portable libraries, each containing 100 Arabic books. In 2024, the initiative distributed 10 new libraries, with notable distributions in Italy, Greece, and the United States.

The Board also discussed the latest efforts under its "Ara" initiative, which launched an awareness campaign for inclusive education in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Sharjah Private Education Authority. KF added 20 audiobooks to their accessible library, supporting blind and visually impaired children and those who have print disabilities.

“Through the provision of books, we are instilling hope and shaping a brighter future for children in difficult circumstances," says Sheikha Bodour.

Ara has been working on producing accessible books in Braille, large-print, audio, and EPUB3 format, as well as familiarising publishers with the technologies and tools used in the production of accessible books.

The meeting highlighted the results of the "Stitching Hope for Gaza" campaign, dedicated to supporting Palestinian children affected by conflict in collaboration with the UAE Red Crescent.

The council also discussed developments related to the "Awareness and Charity ٍRoadshow" which toured government entities and universities across the UAE to showcase the merchandise line produced in collaboration with Emirati artist Mohammed Al Mansoori. The initiative aims to generate proceeds to support Arab refugee and underprivileged children.

Strategic vision for 2025

The board discussed key strategies and plans for 2025, which include strengthening local and international partnerships to ensure that Arabic language literacy and reading reach more children in underserved communities. The discussions underscored the importance of boosting awareness about KF’s vision and work in order to gain the requisite support to make its current and future projects sustainable. The board also explored ideas of innovative initiatives that can be designed and launched to enhance the reading and learning experience for children, even in challenging environments.

Following the meeting, Board members accompanied Sheikha Bodour on a tour of the Najd Al Maqsar, managed by the Sharjah Collection under the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). This project is one of the most significant historical sites in the Wadi Wishi within Khorfakkan. It includes houses, approximately 100 years old, that have been restored and converted into seven luxury heritage accommodations overlooking the mountains. Archaeological studies indicate the discovery of rocks engraved with camel and horse drawings at the site, estimated to date back to 2000 BC.