Award-winning books given to Sharjah students to foster love of reading

SHARJAH // Award-winning books have been handed to children at a school in the emirate as part of the Year of Reading campaign.

The books were delivered to Wishah Primary School in Al Dhaid as part of efforts to foster a love of reading in children and young people, reported Wam.

All of the titles were winners in the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature contest.

“Etisalat has sponsored the Arabic Children’s Literature award since 2009 to promote literature, education and to highlight the importance of reading and the role it plays in advancing societies by fighting ignorance and superstition,” said Abdul Aziz Taryam, chief executive, advisor and general manager of Etisalat Northern Regions

“We believe that the more books we provide, the more likelihood there is that children will read. We hope that access to these books will benefit students and help them develop their intellectual abilities and create another world filled with fun and excitement for them.”

Marwa Al Aqroubi, president of UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), said the award was helping to develop children’s literature and contributing towards positive cultural change in the Arab world.

So far the UAEBBY has handed over 30 packs of books that have won the award to the Emirates Heritage Club. They were initially distributed to schools that took part in the Arab Reading Challenge.

“We invite schools, and culture and youth centres who interact with children and young adults to contact us so that we can distribute the award-winning books to them,” added Ms Al Aqroubi.

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