Page 62 - MINISTRY OF CULTURE PR REPORT - MARCH 2025

4/2/25, 11:43 AM Ministry of Culture launches Reading Ambassadors Initiative

By advancing this theme, the Council also seeks to encourage Arabic reading, strengthening children's connection to their native language while fostering local cultural and knowledge
exchange across different groups of society. This effort also supports the preservation of the UAE's key cultural artefacts like poetry, proverbs, wisdom, and traditional arts, aligning closely
with the vision and goals of the Reading Ambassadors Initiative.
Commenting on the initiative, Mubarak Al Nakhi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, reaffirmed the MOC's unwavering commitment to promoting reading through the continuous
development and implementation of creative, sustainable initiatives. These efforts align with the UAE's vision of positioning reading as a catalyst for progress and sustainable development.
He emphasised that such initiatives reflect the wise leadership's steadfast belief that reading is the cornerstone of knowledge acquisition and scientific advancement, as well as a key driver of
the nation's competitiveness and productivity.
He added that MOC firmly believes that fostering a culture of reading is a shared responsibility, requiring active support and participation from all sectors of society.
UAE's Finance Ministry promotes Volunteerism with Ramadan programs

Encouraging reading as a daily habit is not only an individual endeavour but also a collective duty of institutions and communities. Through this initiative, the Ministry aims to cultivate role
models who lead by example, celebrate the ongoing efforts of influential figures dedicated to promoting reading, and showcase the ambassadors' success stories and best practices in
integrating reading everyday life.
The ministry, in collaboration with the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and the Federal Youth Authority, will provide full support to the Reading Ambassadors and highlight
their efforts across various media channels. In addition, the ministry will designate creative areas within its Cultural Centres and libraries, offering ambassadors a platform to present their
projects and share their experiences in fostering a culture of reading. An annual forum will also be held at the end of each year to showcase the achievements of the Reading Ambassadors.
The inaugural edition of the initiative features distinguished figures in the Writers and Pioneers category, including Shamma bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, Chairperson of the
Board of Directors of the Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan Cultural and Educational Institutions, Sultan Al Ameemi, writer, poet, Executive Director of the Poetry and Heritage Department
at the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Writers Union, Asma Seddiq Al Mutawaa, Founder and Chair of Al Multaqa
Literary Salon, Aisha Belkhair, Research Advisor at the National Library and Archives, Fahad Al Memari, writer, researcher, and Chairman of the Board of the Emirates Library and
Information Association, Maitha Al Khayat, an internationally acclaimed author, illustrator, and trainer in children's and young adult literature, and Mohammed Al Hebsi, writer, novelist,
Director of the Literature Department at the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.
The volunteer category includes Hashem Al Wali, a trainer, writer, and social content creator, and Fatima Al Hammadi, a certified trainer and head of the volunteer team "Al Dhafra
Testahel."
UAE's largest aid shipment for Gaza reaches Al Arish Port

In the youth category, the initiative includes Shareena Al Suwaidi, member of the Abu Dhabi Youth Council; Hazza Al Shehhi, member of Ras Al Khaimah Youth Council; Ahmed Matar,
member of Dubai Youth Council; Yaqoub Al Baloushi, member of Sharjah Youth Council; Mohammed Ali Al Ali, member of Umm Al Qaiwain Youth Council; Nasser Khalid Al Harmoudi,
member of Ajman Youth Council; and Mohammed Abdulla Al Abdouli, member of Fujairah Youth Council. Additionally, this category features Amna Al Mansouri, a school student and the
champion of the UAE Arab Reading Challenge of 2023, and Ahmed Faisal Ali, the champion of the UAE Arab Reading Challenge of 2024.
The children's category features several members of the Emirati Children's Parliament, including Rowdah bint Nehayan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Nahyan bin Diab bin Saif Al Nahyan, Shamsa
bint Faisal Almualla, Khaled bin Hussain Alhammadi, Salem bin Mohammed Binham Alameri, Nouf Yasser Mohammed, Matra Ibrahim, and Fatima Al Kaabi.

In her remarks, Shamma bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan expressed her delight in being part of the initiative and reflected on how her early love of reading was inspired by her late
father, Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan. She highlighted the profound impact of critical and interactive reading on creativity and thought development, emphasising the importance of
fostering reading as a natural and integral part of society.
She also praised the efforts of the Ministry of Culture in advancing the wise leadership's vision by strengthening the cultural and intellectual foundations of future generations.
Sultan Al Ameemi, a writer and poet, emphasised that reading is no longer merely a recreational activity or hobby but a key fundamental pillar in shaping knowledgeable individuals who
appreciate the value of science and culture, particularly in an era of rapid change and expanding knowledge. (ANI/WAM)

https://english.punjabkesari.com/world/2025/03/31/ministry-of-culture-launches-reading-ambassadors-initiative 2/2