As part of its participation in National Reading Month 2023, the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), has partnered with the Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination to organise the ‘Determined to Read’ exhibition at the Majlis Sheikh Mubarak bin Qaran Al Mansouri in Al Dhafra region’s city of Ghiyathi, from 13 to 15 March 2023.
The event, which is the first of its kind in Ghiyathi, presents a small-scale book fair for People of Determination, catering to their needs and aspirations by providing books and publications in various fields. The Centre is also organising a series of accompanying events alongside the exhibition, in order to establish a culture of reading and promote it as a daily habit among all individuals.
The ALC is organising the exhibition as part of the activities for the ‘Khazanat Al Kutub’ initiative, providing nearly 200 titles and a total of 700 books across various fields, including children’s and young adult books, literature, history, natural and social sciences, arts, sports, and languages.
His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, said: “The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre constantly strives to advance the status of the Arabic language in cultural, creative, and academic fields, and to that end, we work to organise impactful cultural events and projects throughout the year, targeting all segments of the community, including People of Determination. We deeply believe that reading and books are an essential right for all, and with that in mind, it is important to join hands and work together to enable all individuals to access books in various fields, and to benefit from the significant cultural movement the UAE is witnessing, and particularly during National Reading Month.
“By organising the ‘Determined to Read’ exhibition, we aim to expand the reach of the ‘Khazanat Al Kutub’ initiative, launched by the ALC to motivate the public to acquire its publications in various fields, and to ensure that they reach the largest number of readers in various regions and cities around the UAE,” H.E. bin Tamim added. “The initiative has achieved remarkable success since its launch, and today, the event has reached the city of Ghiyathi, where it hopes to inspire a culture of reading among residents, build a community of avid readers, enhance their awareness and culture, and enable them to actively participate in the UAE’s sustainable development.”
His Excellency Abdullah Abdul Ali Al Humaiden, Secretary-General of Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, said: "Through these activities, we aim to promote the concept of reading in the field of care and rehabilitation of People of Determination, in line with the National Reading Strategy 2026, and to create a generation of readers and an educated and conscious society, and the Foundation seeks to instill a love of reading in the hearts of its members, pointing out that Zayed Foundation will work hard to integrate this category into the programmes and initiatives included in the National Reading Policy to spread knowledge among People of Determination, and enable them to access contemporary knowledge.”
The exhibition offers visitors several themed corners to explore, in addition to a range of activities, including the Children’s Knowledge Challenge Competition, and a reading workshop for parents titled ‘A Book I Like’, in addition to performances by the Marionette Puppet Theatre and the Story Corner. The event welcomes visitors In the first period from 10 am to 1 pm, and in the second period from 5 pm to 8 pm.
