Abu Dhabi: The General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA) in the UAE has introduced multiple programs aimed at encouraging a reading culture and prioritizing knowledge enhancement as a crucial aspect of society to commemorate the annual Reading Month celebration.
Speaking on the initiatives, a spokesperson for the GPSSA stated that “We are proud to have launched of numerous initiatives to achieve our strategic objectives, most notably strengthening and increasing the link to reading, intensifying initiatives and programs that encourage reading, and building a society characterized by learning and knowledge that emphasize the values of giving and contribute to the progress of development in the country. Acquiring a culture of reading contributes to effectively preserving the country’s cultural and intellectual achievements, building a civilized model based on our nation’s vision to implement initiatives that are aligned with the directives of the wise leadership for a knowledge-based society.”
To encourage the GPSSA’s employees to read, the Authority gave each employee a book to read and enjoy. GPSSA also hosted a “Readers’ Forum”, where employees met to exchange views and discuss ideas about the books they enjoyed reading, which continued throughout Reading Month.
GPSSA employees visited the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library during the month to find out more about the new cultural location in the Emirate of Dubai and organized the first readers’ forum there during the visit.
Other initiatives that were implemented by the GPSSA included the “Reading Challenge for Youngsters” for employees’ children to encourage the younger generation to read with winners honoured at the end of the month, and the “Let’s Read and Have Fun with Our Children” event, which hosted employees and their children on a special day dedicated to reading and fun. The event aimed to promote a culture of reading and spread the value of books among the youth, thus motivating all employees, their children and families to actively participate in establishing reading as a daily habit.