Sharjah: Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, has said building generations that believe in the value of knowledge and the role of books as a means of progress will ensure a bright future for them.
Her remarks came during her visit to the 10th edition of Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF), currently taking place at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme ‘Your Future … Just a Book Away’.
“What children learn today will be reflected in their values, visions, projects and ideas in the future. A philosophy of wanting to learn lays solid foundations for a civilisation for years to come,” Shaikha Jawaher added.
During the visit, Shaikha Jawaher toured SCRF’s halls and visited publishers’ stands before participating in workshops with the children and attending a reading session with Lebanese author for children Sahar Naja Mahfouz.
“The importance and relevance of SCRF is in inspiring younger generations to develop a thirst for reading and knowledge and a mindset for innovation. From the earliest age, children must understand that with those attributes they have the brightest future ahead of them and the ability to inspire others,” Shaikha Jawaher said.
She highlighted the festival’s role in Sharjah’s cultural vision laid down by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, to nurture a culturally aware generation that flourishes on knowledge and science.
“It is impressive to see children from different nationalities and cultures gathering under one roof to gain new insights and benefit from the activities lined up for them at the festival, driven by their passion for knowledge,” Shaikha Jawaher said.
She noted that books can restore harmony and bring humanity back to its true roots as a large and cohesive family where love, goodness, and peace prevail.
Shaikha Jawaher referred to the gathering of international intellectuals, writers, artists and book and publishing professionals participating in SCRF, saying: “This wonderful assembly is further evidence that the emirate is both a platform for globally recognised cultural events and a conduit for the movement of knowledge, literature and art in the Arab and Islamic world.”
She also praised the Sharjah Book Authority for their immense efforts in organising SCRF.
“This unique event consistently succeeds in combining fun and entertainment on the one hand, and science and arts on the other. The festival has become a space where youngsters from a variety of backgrounds and beliefs come together to develop their skills, express their creative potential and acquire new knowledge,” Shaikha Jawaher said.
She also urged families as well as educational and cultural institutions and community members to visit the festival, highlighting SCRF’s vision to nurture a generation that is aware of the value of a book and is open to various forms of creativity and art across the world.
