ABU DHABI, 28th May, 2017 (WAM) -- A UAE newspaper has said that reading expands the mind. It opens it to new worlds, new vistas of exploration, new imagination. It provides food for the intellect, and refreshes it like nothing else.
"The leaders of the UAE know this full well, and have taken steps to increase the gravitas of the reading habit," said the Gulf Today in an editorial on Sunday. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said, "Reading is the first skill needed by our children. The function of the government is not only to provide services but to build brains and skills."The paper continued, "Children are intrinsically curious, smart and pose extremely intelligent questions that can fox adults. Their thirst for knowledge should be quenched with genuine information. "Nowadays, we see a lot of children carrying mobile phones and tablets, already grooming themselves for being a tech-savvy generation. Despite this, the printed word holds a lot of sway. "Events such as the Sharjah International Book Fair and the Sharjah Childrens Reading Festival have proved that love for books among children has not dimmed in an age of alluring digital devices that can spoil young minds. "Sharjah deserves special praise for striving to cultivate the love of literature among children by enriching their experience of the written word. The Sharjah-based daily quoted H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, said, "We are very keen to create a reading community and promote the benefits of reading among our children."Sharjah reaches out to not just kids in the country, but also beyond its shores, particularly to those caught in conflict and distressing conditions, such as refugee children. Their need to acquire knowledge should be considered as a necessary right just as much as the need for shelter, food and water, said Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Chairperson of Kalimat Foundation for Childrens Empowerment. Sheikha Bodour paid a visit to the Emirati-Jordanian Refugee Camp at Mrajeeb Al Fhood in Al Zarqa, Jordan, recently. Her statement was made in the presence of Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council, during the visit. The Kalimat Foundation distributed 1,000 books among the refugee children at the camp. "'The role of books in refugee childrens lives is equivalent to the role of nations,' said Sheikha Bodour. "Reading enables children to cotton on to the good in life, and helps them live the spirit of innocence. Through books, they can overcome lifes trials and tribulations and create hopes and ambitions to live their dreams," concluded the Sharjah-based daily.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2017.
