
KF brings its humanitarian message to Morocco with 600 books
The Foundation's programme culminated in an official visit to Moulay Ali Cherif Primary School in Rabat, led by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Chairperson of Kalimat Foundation. She was received by the school's director, ElMostafa Bouarda, who briefed her on the school's educational efforts and accompanied her on a tour of the classrooms along with other members of the delegation.
During the visit, Sheikha Bodour held an interactive reading session with students, sharing excerpts from her book House of Wisdom, which highlights the legacy of knowledge and Arab civilisation. As part of the Foundation's vision to nurture a lifelong connection with reading, she gifted each child a personal copy of the book—planting a seed for curiosity and intellectual growth. The school was also gifted a portable library of 100 Arabic-language children's books, reinforcing Kalimat Foundation's commitment to making knowledge more accessible to young learners.
The event was attended by a number of prominent Emirati and Moroccan figures in the cultural and educational sectors, including H.E. Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relations in Sharjah and Board Member of Kalimat Foundation; H.E. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority and Board Member of Kalimat Foundation; Abdellah Sghir, Regional Director at the Moroccan Ministry of National Education in Salé; Rachida Roki, President of the Association Reading Network in Morocco; Yasmine Kouikbi, representative of the Moroccan Council for Children's Books; as well as education leaders and representatives of partner organisations.
Commenting on the initiatives, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Founder and Chairperson of Kalimat Foundation, said: 'We are not simply providing children with books; we are offering them tools to dream and a window onto a broader world of possibilities. In Morocco, we brought with us Sharjah's belief that every child has non-negotiable rights: the right to read, to question, and to explore. These initiatives reflect our mission to build communities that view investment in children as an investment in the future. In every book we shared, and every interactive reading session we hosted, our message remained clear: knowledge is a basic right of every child, and reading makes a real difference in both individual lives and entire communities.'
Field visit and library upgrade at ASSAS Association in Ifrane
Kalimat Foundation also carried out a field visit to the ASSAS Association in Ifrane, where it donated a Portable library of 100 Arabic-language books. The visit included a reading session of
Famous by Accident
, published by Kalimat Group, followed by a hands-on creative workshop where children designed costumes based on the book's characters. In addition to donating books, the Foundation supported the renovation and upgrade of the association's library and provided ten digital tablets to enhance the learning environment with interactive tools and promote sustainable education.
These initiatives were made possible through proceeds from the sale of products designed in collaboration with Emirati artist Mohammed Al Mansoori, Kalimat Foundation's Creative Ambassador, with a portion of the proceeds allocated to fund the 'Pledge a Library' programme in Morocco.
Two more Portable libraries and 200 books for young reading champions
The Foundation also donated two additional Portable libraries—one to the Walja Al Sultan School Group and another to the Al Tanmiya School Group—each containing 100 Arabic books. Additionally, 200 books were presented to children awarded by the Moroccan Reading Network in recognition of their commitment to reading. These gifts aimed to reward their passion, expand their cultural horizons, and nurture their intellectual growth.
Rachida Roky, President of the Association Reading Network in Morocco, expressed her appreciation for the initiative, saying: 'What Kalimat Foundation has brought to Morocco goes beyond book donations. It establishes a living relationship between children and knowledge through interactive experiences that enrich reading and connect it to everyday life. These initiatives serve as a model of collaborative Arab cultural action and reflect a genuine commitment to making reading a right for all—not a privilege for a few.'
A strategic and humanitarian vision for child empowerment
Kalimat Foundation's work in Morocco is part of its broader mission to ensure children—particularly those affected by economic hardship, remote geographies, or humanitarian crises—have access to knowledge. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed thousands of books and implemented impactful initiatives across dozens of countries, placing literacy and reading at the heart of its development and humanitarian goals.
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Al Amiri congratulated all winners and participants, commending the remarkable turnout and broad engagement, which reflect the students' cultural awareness and dedication to enhancing their knowledge and language skills. Reem Adel Ahmad Al Zarouni will represent the UAE in the final round of the Arab Reading Challenge, held in Dubai, vying for the title in the 9th edition. The competition involves multiple elimination rounds, culminating in the selection of champions who have read, summarised, and demonstrated comprehension of 50 books. The competition progresses from the classroom to the school, district, and country levels, ultimately leading to the selection of national champions from participating countries, both within the Arab world and internationally. Distinguished champions and schools are selected based on comprehensive, standardised criteria. In the People of Determination category, participants are required to read 25 books. The UAE has consistently demonstrated strong participation and achieved significant milestones in the Arab Reading Challenge. Notably, Amna Mohammed Al Mansouri won the title in the 2023 seventh edition, which saw 24.8 million students from 46 countries participate. Al Ebdaa School - Cycle 1 received the Best School award in the eighth edition, involving over 28 million students from 50 countries. In the fifth edition, with over 21 million participants from 52 countries, Moza Al Ghannah earned the Outstanding Supervisor award. The ninth edition of the Arab Reading Challenge, an initiative of MBRGI, achieved record participation with 32.231 million students from 132,112 schools in 50 countries, guided by 161,004 supervisors. Launched in the 2015-2016 academic year under the direction of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Arab Reading Challenge aims to promote reading among students, within the Arab world as well as globally, and cultivate creative thinking. It also aims to cultivate a vibrant Arabic reading culture, emphasising the language's capacity for all forms of knowledge and encouraging its daily use among youth. This empowers students with the knowledge to build a brighter future, refine their skills and character, understand other cultures and embrace the values of tolerance, coexistence and acceptance.