The 'Space Hop' Reading Project Will Take Place Across Ten Dubai Schools

United Arab Emirates, 3 October 2010: The 2010-2011 'Space Hop' Reading Challenge which aims to encourage children to have a passion for reading has been launched for the first time in Dubai.

This year's international Reading Challenge, which will see 24 countries around the world take part, is organised by the British Council and supported by the Dubai Government Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) and aims to build children's self-confidence and passion for reading. This year, the theme will focus on space and aims to tap in to children's fascination with space travel and fun alien worlds.

"This is an exciting project that aims to get children across 10 Dubai schools excited about reading fun, vibrant books on space. It is vital that children are encouraged to have fun while learning and I'm sure they will also enjoy the associated activities that go with it that will help them develop their knowledge and reading skills," said Fatma Al Marri of KHDA.

Two collections of books, totaling over 100 titles all related to the space theme have been bought by the British Council. These will be divided between a group of participating cycle one and cycle two KHDA schools. One set will be provided to cycle one schools (Grade 5) and the other set will be handed over to cycle two schools (Grade 8.) The book sets will be borrowed for one month per school throughout the 2010-2011 school year, allowing every school in the cycle to benefit and complete the challenge.

Teachers, librarians and around 820 pupils throughout Dubai will be provided with a carefully selected range of space-themed books for different reading levels and interests to entice children, teachers and parents to participate in what is also the 2010 BBC Year of Science.

Books have been selected for the quality of writing, illustration and appeal to children who are English language learners.

"The Reading Challenge is an immensely popular and successful UK reading initiative that involves up to 750,000 children aged four to 11 years. We are very excited about bringing this challenge to Dubai," said Karen Ryan, English Projects Manager, British Council, UAE.

To reward children for taking part in the campaign and to teach them to discover more about books, the 2010-2011 'Space Hop' Reading Challenge will present children with a membership card, a fold-out poster and lots of other rewards and incentives which will encourage them to document their thoughts and feelings on the books they read.

"There are three stages to the challenge. Students can choose to read two books in a month four books in a month or six books in a month. All students that participate in the Reading Challenge will receive a certificate and students who finish reading six books will also receive a gold medal to celebrate their achievement," added Ryan.

Teachers at the launch event were treated to workshops and presentations from the British Council, KHDA and international English Language Specialists and are also being encouraged to include storytelling sessions, reading clubs, puzzles and games into classroom activities.

English Language Specialist, Robert Hill, said: "This is an exciting and rewarding project. A workshop was held with teachers and librarians from across Dubai and they are all looking forward to motivating their young students about all the fun things related to 'space,'" he said.

An interactive web site, www.spacehop.org.uk has also been launched and links children with their favourite authors and illustrators as well as providing them with the opportunity to discuss reading ideas. School teachers also look set to benefit from the campaign with guides and resource packs for participating schools being handed out at today's launch.

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The British Council
The British Council works in over 100 countries and territories worldwide to build intercultural understanding between the UK and other countries through the arts, education and training, science and technology, sport and good governance. Our income in 2008/09 was £645million, of which grant-in-aid from the British government was £209million. For more information, please visit: www.britishcouncil.org/me

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© Press Release 2010