Dubai: In another effort to encourage reading habits and enhance knowledge levels within the community, a new initiative was launched by the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF) in partnership with Dubai Courts.
The initiative called ‘My Family Reads’ was launched in December 2013 under the directives of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Chairman of the Board of Directors at Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and of Dubai Event Management Corporation, to implement the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to create a knowledge-based society capable of leading the nation into the future and to raise the status of the Arabic language as symbol of Emirati national identity.
Under the initiative, MBRF delivered a large collection of books in the form of 180 knowledge packages to Dubai Courts to be distributed to Dubai Courts employees.
Speaking about the initiative, Jamal Bin Huwaireb, Managing Director of MBRF, said that they were happy to have Dubai Courts on board with their new initiative and that their cooperation is aligned with Shaikh Mohammad’s vision to activate partnerships between government entities to enhance excellence in government performance.
“The increasing influence of digital entertainment and social media in the modern society has led to shrinking reading habits. Through the ‘My Family Reads’ initiative, our effort is to establish a culture of reading within the UAE society by introducing international classics and best-selling titles to Emirati families, and in the process extend the reach of global knowledge to the local society in the UAE,” he said”
The knowledge packages in the initiative include Arabic translations of renowned international literary works on a wide range of topics that meet the interests of all age groups.
Another interesting package offered educational books on various materials, aimed at children below the age of seven.
Commenting on the partnership with MBRF, Tarish Eid Al Mansouri, Director-General of Dubai Courts, said that the partnership reflects their interest “to promote the values of knowledge and raise the status of Arabic language as a symbol of [their] identity.”
“There is no doubt that the unique range of outstanding books offered as part of the ‘My Family Reads’ initiative will contribute to the dissemination of knowledge and culture of reading among the employees and members of their families in all age groups,” said Al Mansouri.
- Mahy Ihab is an intern at Gulf News
