Sharjah: Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, the Founder and Chairperson of the Kalimat Foundation, recently attended an art workshop at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) 2023, in line with KF’s commitment to fostering creativity and promoting a love for reading among children.
The workshop was led by Emirati artist Mohammed Al Mansoori, KF’s first ambassador, and allowed children to unleash their imagination by painting on small bookcases shaped like the portable libraries used in the Pledge a Library initiative. Sheikha Bodour engaged with the children and shared in their joy and enthusiasm for art, creativity, and reading.
As part of its SCRF 2023 program, the Kalimat Foundation also organized a series of inclusive workshops that brought together visually impaired children with their peers, aimed at enhancing their literacy skills. These workshops were hosted under the “Ara” initiative, which was launched in 2017 to promote literacy skills among children with visual disabilities.
The main reading workshop, held in collaboration with the House of Wisdom and the Emirates Schools Establishment, focused on the story “A Paper Traveller,” published by the Kalimat Group. The storytelling session aimed to instill values of perseverance, determination, and willpower in children, while also drawing their attention to the importance of respecting the environment and practicing sustainability.
The Kalimat Foundation organized the inclusive workshops as part of its efforts to activate the Memoranda of Understanding signed with local entities, including a partnership with the House of Wisdom, reflecting the Marrakesh Treaty authorisation. The partnership with the House of Wisdom also supported the “Pledge a Library” initiative, which aims to empower under-resourced and refugee children by ensuring their access to quality books and sources of knowledge.
During its participation in SCRF 2023, the Kalimat Foundation also launched a new product line featuring the designs of artist Mohammed Al Mansoori. Through these initiatives, the foundation strives to achieve its vision and goals of empowering children through reading, safeguarding their right to access sources of knowledge, and nurturing a new generation that values knowledge and meaningful connections.