Abu dhabi: Kalimat Foundation and the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) organized a visit to the Emirates Humanitarian City in Abu Dhabi, aiming to promote the presence of books in the lives of children residing in humanitarian settings. This effort focused on using reading, arts, and creative activities as supportive spaces for learning, expression, and interaction. During the visit, Kalimat Foundation donated a mobile library containing 100 books as part of its “Adopt a Library” initiative, alongside distributing 50 copies of the book “House of Wisdom” to the children participating in the event.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, this marks the second donation from Kalimat Foundation to the children of the Emirates Humanitarian City, following its initial contribution of 400 books. This initiative helped provide educational and cultural resources for the children and created a space for inspiration, interaction, and creativity.
UAEBBY also contributed by donating 200 books as part of its “Once Upon a Time” initiative, showcasing the integration of cultural efforts aimed at bringing books closer to children in various environments.
The visit featured an interactive cultural program combining reading, arts, and creative activities, emphasizing the role of books in enriching a child’s experience, broadening their intellectual horizons, and fostering a sense of stability and belonging. This added a cultural and humanitarian dimension to the integrated environment provided by the Emirates Humanitarian City for children and their families residing there.
Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Vice Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Kalimat Foundation, highlighted the evolving relationship between reading, knowledge, and humanitarian work. She noted that while the focus was once solely on meeting basic human needs, the global understanding of human development has expanded to include capacity building, expanding opportunities, and enhancing quality of life.
The city’s management welcomed the visiting delegation, led by Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, with the participation of Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of UAEBBY, Israa Al Mulla, a member of the Board’s Advisory Council, and the Kalimat Foundation team. The visit included a tour of the school and several community facilities in the city, where the delegation learned about the educational and humanitarian services provided to children and families. They also gained insights into the city’s efforts to provide an integrated environment that addresses their educational, social, and humanitarian needs.
The visit program included an interactive cultural event for 50 children aged 6 to 10, featuring a reading session of the story “My Grandfather’s Fez,” presented by Nour Al-Louh from the council, as well as the “Magic Fez” activity, which encouraged the children to unleash their imaginations and create their own stories.