Give 10,000 books a new home, Big Heart Foundation tells SIBF visitors
- Last updated: November 8, 2026 | 15:10
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
What if a book you have already read could become someone else's favourite story?
The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) is inviting children, families, schools and book lovers across the UAE to help collect more than 10,000 books by giving their books a new home through a community book drive at the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), taking place from 4 to 15 November 2026 at Expo Centre Sharjah.
The idea is simple: find a book you've loved, bring it to the fair and give its story a chance to continue.
From picture books and novels to biographies and books across all genres, every eligible donation can help bring reading material to children and communities supported by TBHF's humanitarian programmes.
Organised in collaboration with the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), the book drive welcomes new and pre-loved books in good condition, excluding religious books. Donations can be dropped off at TBHF's stand in Hall 5, L-12, throughout the Sharjah International Book Fair.
One book. One act of giving. A community of young changemakers
Beyond collecting books, the drive aims to inspire young people to recognise the value of giving and understand how sharing something they already own can make a difference in someone else's life.
The book drive also forms part of TBHF's Educate the Heart school competition, which engages students in humanitarian activities that encourage empathy, generosity and social responsibility. Students participating in the competition are encouraged to contribute, alongside families and members of the wider community.
Commenting on the initiative, Ameera Bin Ofai, Strategy Officer at TBHF, said: "A book does not lose its value when its first reader turns the final page. It can continue to inspire, educate and open new possibilities for someone else. Through this initiative, we want children and families to experience the value of giving firsthand and recognise that even the simplest acts of generosity can create meaningful opportunities for others."
From Sharjah's bookshelves to communities in need
The books collected will begin a new journey beyond the fair, supporting TBHF's ongoing humanitarian and education programmes.
Initial distribution is planned for the new facility of the TBHF Education Centre in Sharjah and the school in Egypt supported by TBHF through the Educate the Heart competition, with additional donations intended for other foundation-supported projects across different countries.
These may include community centres, children's hospitals and shared community spaces, where books can help create more opportunities for children to discover stories, develop reading habits and enjoy learning beyond the classroom.
Whether it is a favourite childhood story, an inspiring novel or a book ready for its next reader, each donation is an opportunity to share knowledge, imagination and the joy of reading with others.