Sharjah24: The "Once Upon a Time" initiative, part of the UAE Board on Books for Young People, distributed five mini-libraries to several Moroccan schools in collaboration with the Moroccan Board on Books for Young People. A total of 1,000 Arabic books for children and youth were provided, aiming to empower children with accessible knowledge that meets their needs and develops their skills.
Library distribution and content
The initiative covered five schools across different regions of Morocco, equipping each library with 200 carefully selected high-quality books suitable for various age groups. The books included topics in literature, science, self-development, and educational stories that promote human values and inspire critical thinking, exploration, and creativity.
Interactive reading workshops
During the visit of the UAE Board delegation to the participating schools, interactive reading workshops and storytelling sessions were organized with children's literature specialists. This aimed to create a stimulating reading environment, encouraging student interaction with books and enhancing their language and communication skills. The sessions saw significant engagement from children and teachers, who expressed joy at having access to the latest and best Arabic books and stories.
Long-Term commitment to literacy
Mawra Al-Aqroubi, president of the UAE Board on Books for Young People, stated, "Implementing this initiative again in Morocco reflects our belief that every book given to a child is a seed planted in fertile ground. Distributing these libraries is not a temporary project but a long-term commitment to building a generation of readers and thinkers." She emphasized that books open windows to new worlds of imagination, knowledge, and hope.
Inspiring partnerships for future initiatives
Al-Aqroubi highlighted the constructive partnership with the Moroccan Board on Books for Young People as an inspiring model for Arab cooperation in children's literature and promoting reading. She hopes this step will lead to larger initiatives across the region and the world, asserting that culture should always serve as a bridge between peoples.
Continuation of previous projects
This initiative is an extension of previous projects conducted by the UAE Board on Books for Young People in Morocco. In November 2023, "Once Upon a Time" distributed 1,000 books to students at "Moulay Ismail" School in Safrou during the International Children's Book and Youth Fair in Casablanca, aimed at supporting children in remote areas with carefully selected books.
Focus on diverse and rich content
The "Once Upon a Time" initiative emphasizes the careful selection of books that are rich and diverse in content, appropriate for children's ages and cultures. The mobile libraries distributed include books that respect cultural diversity and promote critical thinking while maintaining identity and uniqueness.
Achievements since launch
Since its inception in 2015, "Once Upon a Time" has successfully distributed over 15,000 books in several countries, including Jordan, Lebanon, India, and Italy, targeting children in areas facing humanitarian crises or lacking educational resources, as well as refugee camps. This aligns with its vision that building a better future starts with books, and every library opened is a window of hope for children seeking dreams and knowledge.
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