THE AL-WARAQEEN USED BOOK FESTIVAL'S NINTH SESSION HAS BEGUN
Under the theme "When books come to life... the stories of the future are written," the ninth session of the Al Warraqeen Used Book Festival, which is being organized by Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) until the ninth of this month, kicked off Wednesday morning, February 5, 2025, in Al Nakheel Park in Sharjah. Public benefit associations, government and private agencies, schools, universities, diplomatic missions, and community institutions of all kinds and individuals participated with distinction.
Visitors to the Al Nakheel Park, where the "Al-Waraqeen" area was packed with people since the early hours of the morning, are in for a feast of 450 thousand priceless books. Believing in its educational and social purpose, they traveled between the tables including science, literature, art, history, and information, looking for the works that fit each one. SCHS offers these titles at symbolic pricing.
The CEO of Fast Construction Contracting Company, Eng. Fathi Jabr Afana, who is also the ambassador of the League of Arab States-affiliated Arab Family Organization, expressed pride in the ongoing collaboration with SCHS in several of its events, such as the Al-Waraqeen Used Book Festival.
This collaboration has been going on since the festival's initial session, according to Afana. In addition to preparing the fence for the festival grounds and other equipment that fits within the same framework, the company is currently observing its contribution to the ninth session by setting up the tables on which the books were placed.
Engineer Fathy commended the volunteers' meticulous planning and commitment. He emphasized that the fact that SCHS organized the festival is proof of its dedication to increasing community awareness and giving everyone the chance to support and help the services it offers to individuals with disabilities, whether through book purchases or donations. Additionally, he emphasized how the festival fosters a sense of volunteerism and raises cultural knowledge among community members.
He expressed his profound gratitude and admiration to Her Excellency Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, President of SCHS, as well as to all the volunteers and organizers of the Al Warraqeen Used Book Festival, explaining that the partnership with SCHS is solid and strong and encompasses numerous events rather than just one.
Her Excellency Mona Abdul Karim Al Yafei, Director General of SCHS, urged community members to attend the festival, buy priceless books, and start private libraries at symbolic prices that work for everyone. She emphasized that the festival's primary objective is not just to raise money, which will always go toward helping those with disabilities, but also to improve the social, cultural, and cognitive development of volunteers and the public.
She said, “In every service it offers and event it plans, SCHS places a high value on sustainability. This emphasis on approach and culture, as well as its desire to foster community awareness, culture, and society, as well as to promote learning and reading, is evident in the organization of the ninth edition of the Al-Waraqeen Used Book Festival”.
The general manager of SCHS discussed the festival's environmental impact, pointing out that in addition to promoting reading among friends and family, the circulation of old books lessens the need to cut down trees for paper. By buying or donating books, the festival also helps the community members who need to fund the services that SCHS offers to those with disabilities.
Al Yafei emphasized that the Al Warraqeen Used Book Festival is a veritable volunteer haven, as 200 volunteers participated in the ninth session, including 105 from the Sharjah Volunteer Work Center, 95 from SCHS staff, individuals with disabilities and their mothers, and volunteers from the University of Sharjah's College of Health Sciences.
All of the organizers and supporters, including the Sharjah Municipality, Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority, Sharjah Police General Command, Sharjah Volunteer Work Center, GIBCA Company, and Fast Building Contracting Company, received gratitude and appreciation from the Director General of SCHS. The Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, Sharjah Government Media Office, Ramal International Advertising Company, Site Global, and all of the festival's volunteers and staff were especially thanked.
Given the significant social role that SCHS plays in supporting individuals with disabilities and society at large, Mr. Ahmed Hassan Mirza, Coordinator of Volunteer Programs at the Sharjah Volunteer Work Center, stated that collaboration with the organization is a source of pride and honor. He continued by saying, "We always wish SCHS more progress, success, and prosperity, and we are ready to work with it permanently on the various events and activities it organizes
Events that accompany the festival
The Art for All Center "Falaj" organized a series of art workshops, and in addition to the art workshops offered by the participating institutions, visitors to the Al Warraqeen Used Book Festival will enjoy a variety of artistic and cultural events during the morning and evening hours. Additionally, there will be an exhibition of paintings that were expertly and beautifully drawn by Art for All members. Along with musical and theatrical performances, the events also feature artistic participations from both public and private schools.
The Young Writer Competition and the Most Beautiful Comment Competition are run by the Committee for Attracting Institutions, Centers, Associations, and Communities. Along with the Communities Hosting Event, the festival also features the Simplified Reading Workshop. On Friday, the Palestinian community takes part in the event, while on Saturday, the Egyptian community does the same.
The Masarat Center for Development and Empowerment of People with Disabilities staff oversees selling "Takween" products, such as "Danat," "Atiq," and "Fan Al Darza," while you are exploring the Al Warraqeen Used Book Festival. There is also a section dedicated to introducing well-known Arab and Muslim scholars and poets.
The site of the event has been constructed to accommodate all individuals, including those with impairments, the elderly, and moms who use strollers to accompany their children, as is usual by Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services. The celebration gives wheelchair-using individuals with physical disabilities a special passage, sending a strong message to the community to make it easier and more convenient for them to access facilities.