#UAEReads challenge delivers almost 34,000 books nationwide

The National and publisher Scholastic's campaign saw 71 schools from across the country take part, with a total of 682 hours spent reading books in class.

DUBAI // With about 34,000 books distributed across the country, the team behind the #UAEReads Challenge is confident that it has helped to raise awareness of the importance of reading.

The team, which delivered 33,901 books last year, said they would continue their work into the future.

“The #UAEReads campaign was a huge success,” said Fahmida Seitz, an executive at Scholastic, a major publisher of children’s books.

"Together with The National, we have achieved our collective goal of getting more students to read, through our efforts of monthly challenges and the books we have given away in prizes."

Seventy-one schools took part in the challenge, of which 29 were in Dubai and 42 were in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

The team distributed 28,101 digital English books and 5,800 printed Arabic books. A total of 117 pupils from various schools won the challenges.

Jeremy Mead, whose daughter was among the winners, said the initiative was a good opportunity to draw pupils and parents to read.

“Being able to read and spend time reading is so important for us all,” said the father of nine-year-old Georgia, who won the weekly competition last March.

“It increases our knowledge, allows us to learn and to diversify our thinking. And it is magnificent to see that under the great guidance and leadership of the UAE we now have a new national reading law.”

Mr Mead said his daughter’s reading habits had improved significantly.

“She was an avid reader and is now even more so. She has also inspired the entire family to read more,” said the Briton, 55.

“As a community, and especially as parents, we should encourage reading rather than using computers and mobile phones to entertain children. We also need to create more libraries in the community to cater for all nationalities.”

Indeed, the spirit of the successful campaign should continue, Ms Seitz said.

“Show your child that reading is part of everyone’s life by reading diverse works that serve different purposes,” she said. “Consider cookbooks, television manuals, online magazines and cereal boxes. Make a habit out of living through reading.”

Amy Kranz, who teaches English at Al Shohub Private School in Abu Dhabi, said the initiative had “really helped my students, especially the younger ones between 12 and 16, to get into reading in an active, daily way”. Four of her pupils won the monthly challenges.

Ms Kranz said her pupils were now more likely to have books in their hands instead of smartphones. “It is not just about English reading. Arabic reading habits have also significantly improved because of the campaign,” said the American, 40.

She said she was so pleased with the results of the campaign that if the campaign did not officially continue this year, she would do so for her class.