DUBAI // A Ramadan education campaign to distribute five million books to children in refugee camps and schools around the world was launched on Sunday by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
The Reading Nation campaign, announced on Twitter by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, is part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. He said that he asked God to accept his and the people’s good deeds during the holy month.
“Today, we announce our Ramadan campaign, ‘Reading Nation’,” he said. “The Reading Nation campaign will provide #5MillionBooks for refugee students and students in schools in need around the world.”
The campaign will directly provide children and school pupils with two million books, and establish 2,000 libraries, while supporting educational and humanitarian programmes.
Sheikh Mohammed said that the fastest way to end poverty was to eliminate ignorance.
“We plan to move from feeding the hungry to nurturing minds,” he said.
“Our religion encourages us to seek knowledge that paves the way towards building civilisations. Books do, indeed, facilitate people’s journey to enlightenment and help secure a prosperous future.”
Business leaders and public and private institutions were invited to join the campaign, which Sheikh Mohammed described as a “shining beacon of hope from the UAE”.
Institutions were provided with five packages and can donate between Dh500,000 and Dh10 million to Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Sharjah Islamic Bank and Emirates Islamic Bank. For every Dh10 donation, a book is given to the cause.
Meanwhile, donation platforms were set up in malls, including Mirdif City Centre, Festival City, Sharjah Mega Mall, Dubai Marina Mall and Dubai Mall.
Residents can also donate to the campaign by texting the word “read” to one of four text numbers.
The donation amount for the text number 9030 is Dh30; 9090 is Dh90; 9300 is Dh300; and 9900 is Dh900, which will allow for the donation of 90 books.
A committee was established to oversee the campaign, which ends on the 19th day of Ramadan, Zayed Humanitarian Day.
“We will definitely reap the fruits of the efforts made by our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and gain the science and knowledge necessary for the progress of our country and the world,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
The UAE’s goal to make 2016 the Year of Reading would reflect positively on the Arab and Islamic communities, said Mohammed Al Gergawi, secretary general of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future.
“The Reading Nation campaign conveys a message of love, tolerance and development sent by the UAE leadership and its people to the region and the world,” he said.
“Each Ramadan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid launches a unique philanthropic campaign which he directly supports and supervises.
“Such campaigns aim to unify the UAE’s humanitarian efforts during this holy month and leave a benevolent Emirati footprint across the Arab and Islamic worlds.”
For more information, people can visit readingnation.ae or call 044504550.
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae
