ABU DHABI // It can be hard for children in hospital to spend much time reading with adults and their education can suffer as a result.
So media free zone twofour54 and Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan Al Nahyan’s Wanna Read? initiative have joined to ensure sick children advance their learning.
A three-year project was launched by the partners on Sunday, in celebration of the UAE’s Year of Reading, in which community volunteers will visit children in hospitals and read with them.
“This will create a greater impact, helping children to read and learn as they heal in hospital, as well as increasing awareness of our initiative among twofour54 employees, campus partners and the entire Abu Dhabi community,” Sheikha Shamma said.
Noura Al Kaabi, chairwoman of Media Zone Authority Abu Dhabi and twofour54, said: “Twofour54’s #United4UAE initiative celebrates our nation’s shared purpose and values.
“Twofour54 certainly shares the goal of Wanna Read? to nurture the development of our nation’s young people.
“With special guest Stormtroopers from the Star Wars film, I visited children at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, so I have seen first-hand the difference Sheikha Shamma’s gracious initiative is making to the lives of young patients and I’m honoured to be involved in it personally.
“Twofour54 has committed to giving back 2,454 hours of service to the community and I’m delighted that Wanna Read? will be the recipient of many of these hours from the twofour54 community in the UAE’s Year of Reading.”
Twofour54 will also host special screenings with Wanna Read? in its post-production room at the Khalifa Park campus and offer studio space, equipment and production services support.
Wanna Read? is an initiative set up in 2013 to encourage children in hospital to continue their learning.
It is one of three charitable organisations with which twofour54 has formed partnerships for its #United4UAE campaign, in which employees and partners volunteer 2,454 hours.
The President, Sheikh Khalifa, declared 2016 the Year of Reading, to be implemented by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
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