FUJAIRAH // More than 300 school pupils hopped onto a book bus to discover a new world of learning.
Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation arranged a two-day event to promote reading by sending a mobile library to spend a day each at two schools in the emirate as part of the initiative Hayakom Aqro Mana – Come Read with Us.
The bus visited Sakamkam School on Tuesday and Al Raheeb School the following day.
A 10th grade pupil at the remote Al Raheeb School said it was the first time she had seen a bus full of books.
“The idea is absolutely unique with an atmosphere that encourages you to read and trigger your imagination,” said 15-year-old Mazoun Salem.
“It’s difficult to find a library nearby; either we read at school and stick with what they have or drive to Dibba or Fujairah to buy a book.”
Al Raheeb School is in Dadna, 45 kilometres from Fujairah city and 20km from Dibba.
“Some of my classmates like to read e-books, but I prefer to hold the book in my hands – I enjoy it more,” said Mazoun.
Another pupil said her parents set up a library at home to encourage their children to read more.
“I was raised to love and admire books since I was a child and this bus made me feel like I’m part of an imaginary story,” said Mariam Al Hassani, 14. The book bus has about 2,000 books and reading materials along with devices to display e-books – plus a sitting area.
It was provided by Knowledge without Borders, the Sharjah-based cultural project that aims to provide easy access to books across the country.
“I participated in the reading competition and in many school reading activities, and I don’t mind reading a book online if I don’t find it elsewhere,” said Mariam.
The Al Raheeb principal, who is also named Mariam Al Hassani, welcomed the mobile library. It was, she said, an exciting new experience for her pupils.
“We have about 7,000 books in our school’s library,” she said. “The nearest public library is in Dibba and [there are] no bookshops nearby, so we try our best in providing the students with the books they need; either we buy them from the book fairs or we look for them online.
“We arrange many reading competitions and activities throughout the year and this bus will help in encouraging students to read and love reading.”
Ali Qasim, the general manager of Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation, said that the initiative went hand-in-hand with the UAE’s Year of Reading and aimed to highlight the importance of reading, with a focus on Arabic literature.
“Our initiative seeks to promote reading in a modern and easy way that can encourage people of all ages to transfer it into a habit and enrich their knowledge and experience,” he said.
rhaza@thenational.ae
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
LOVE%20AGAIN
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The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
Company%C2%A0profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Fixtures
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWednesday%2C%20April%203%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EArsenal%20v%20Luton%20Town%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EManchester%20City%20v%20Aston%20Villa%2C%2011.15pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EThursday%2C%20April%204%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ELiverpool%20v%20Sheffield%20United%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Results
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m; Winner: Mcmanaman, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
6.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Bawaasil, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Bochart, Fabrice Veron, Satish Seemar
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Mutaraffa, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
7.50pm: Longines Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,00 (D) 1,900m; Winner: Rare Ninja, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.25pm: Zabeel Trophy – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Alfareeq, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
9pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (T) 2,410m; Winner: Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
9.35pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Zorion, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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South Korea
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Company%20profile
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Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Zayed Sustainability Prize