HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTENDED THE OPENING OF THE 7TH USED BOOK FESTIVAL
As part of the activities marking Sharjah as World Book Capital and in the presence of more than 600 male and female students from public and private schools and members of society of all classes, Ms. Mona Abdel Karim, Director of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) opened on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, the 7th Used Book Festival. SCHS is organizing the festival under the theme (Get a book, Light a path) with more than one million books, at Al Nakheel Park on the shores of Khalid Lake, Sharjah. The event, which will last to February ’29, offers books at reasonable prices starting from two up to twenty dirhams.
Ms. Mona Abdel Karim has emphasized that one of the most important goals of the festival is to spread culture and knowledge and enhance the culture of volunteerism by providing an opportunity for those wishing to volunteer, including people with disabilities either in collecting and sorting books or through alternate committees, overseeing sales and dealing directly with the public. In addition to the precious opportunities that it offers to its visitors from different age, demographic and social categories to buy books and obtain knowledge and culture. On the other hand, large number of citizens from the Sultanate of Oman, who were anxious to learn about the opening of the festival, attended. Their presence has become part of the festival.
Ms. Mona said, “Volunteering is a behavior and culture that, since its foundation, SCHS has been keen on developing in the minds of volunteers. The Used Book Festival is stimulating a remarkable volunteering movement from various students of schools and universities, employees of centers, public benefit societies and other governmental institutions, in addition to the increasing numbers of SCHS employees. Everyone is working in a team spirit”.
The director of SCHS pointed out that one of the most important ideas for the Used Book Festival is to transform it into a sustainable institution as directed by Her Highness Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director General of SCHS. Consequently, its continuity throughout the year and employing a cadre who continues to work in it to continuously spread culture and achieve the desired goals.
She explained that despite being an institution specialized in working with persons with disabilities, Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services is keen to organize many activities targeting all members of society because it believes in integrating raising awareness process and strengthening the bonds of cooperation with all institutions and bodies, with the aim of achieving further progress and prosperity.
For his part, Mr. Yazan Youssef Al-Qaryouti, General Manager of Sisli International Company, one of the sponsors of the 7th Used Book Festival, confirmed that the festival is a distinguished cultural and social event that encourages people to read, learn and know. Al-Qaryouti praised the perfect organization and the diversity of books, which meets people's diverse reading interests, wishing success to all workers in Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services.
The opening of the festival included artistic, literary and informative acts presented by students of Al-Wafa School for Capacity Development (Ramla Branch), Sharjah Public School, Al-Ula School and Al-Shula Private School for Girls. In addition, there were a group of cultural and artistic workshops such as the ‘Little Writer’, ‘Story’, ‘the Arabic Name Writing’, and ‘Coloring’ Workshops etc.
On the first day, there was a high number of students and visitors to the festival searching for books. Organizers made sure to classify books among sections according to their subjects and types. For example, visitors can go (literature) section, or (religious books) section etc.
The students of Al-Kamal American School expressed their happiness for visiting the festival and wandering between its rich and diverse sections, which include many major books in various categories of knowledge. They stressed that the festival is a valuable opportunity to own valuable books at reasonable prices.
Notably, the activities of the 7th Used Book Festival would continue until February 29, every day from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Please join us. We sincerely thank you.