The I Love My Book campaign has provided six schools in Sana’a and Aden with libraries
For four years, the Global
Changemakers team in Yemen has been working hard to instill the love of reading
and spread knowledge among children and young students.
The team, supported by the British Council, launched the I Love My Book
campaign in 2008. The campaign aims to raise awareness about reading among young
students through public libraries for children in schools as well as fun
activities and festivals about the importance of reading.
On Saturday and Sunday the team organized a competition between 18 students
from six schools. Students were given a number of books to read before the
competition, covering topics from ethics to Shakespeare, and were then quizzed
on the texts.
Al-Forat School won the competition and was awarded three laptops for the
students. Runners up won three digital cameras.
Students, aged 10-15, held banners that read: “Nation that don’t read; don’t
develop”, “Reading is the secret of my success” and “Reading is the key to
knowledge and the way to advancement”.
Edhah Al-Maqhafi, a member of the Global Changemakers team said that the message
of the I Love My Book campaign is clear: “We must implant the love of reading
into our children. Reading must be an essential part of our children’s
personality,” she said.
Afrah Al-Tafaf, a teacher at Al-Fadhaila School said that the campaign has
actively encouraged students to read enthusiastically.
The campaign team provided the school with a library in 2010. “The new library
has made students keener to visit it regularly,” said Al-Tafaf, who added that
around 70 students now use the library every day.
Ghadeer Obad, 14, a student from Al-Forat School, aspires to be a cardiologist
in the future took part in the competition. She has read dozens of books
provided by the campaign, including many science and history books.
“I love reading because it’s a symbol of civilization and culture,” she said.
“This campaign has motivated me to read a lot and choose my books well.” She
added: “Reading makes me more confident and more determined to achieve my
goals.”
Elham Al-Gohali, project assistant at the British Council, said that reading is
one of the important factors in building a civilization.
“It is the ideal method for community development, especially nowadays as we
need a strong and educated generation to cope with the changes we are facing,”
she said.
Al-Gohali stressed the importance of the role of the Ministry of Education,
heads of schools, librarians, and parents to motivate and encourage students to
read more books and develop themselves in a way that will positively affect all
components of society.
Ammar Al-Wohaishi, 14, a student at Khaled Bin Al-Waleed School was very
enthusiastic about the competition and hopes that it will be held every year.
He likes reading books of short stories. “I feel comfortable during reading. It
provides me with information and entertainment,”
Before the campaign, Al-Wohaishi rarely read but the campaign’s well-designed
library in his school has motivated him to read regularly. “I’ve learnt from
the library’s books that dreams can come true,” he said. “Through reading I can
achieve my goals.”
Orphanage schools also took part in the competition. Helal Al-Falahi, 12, from
Sana’a’s orphanage school said that reading will create a good future for
children. He was happy when he saw the “fantastic” new library provided by the
campaign and began reading a lot more.
“I can serve my country by reading,” he said proudly. “Reading makes me think
carefully about my future and my ambitions.”