20 new audiobooks for visually disabled unveiled at Sharjah International Book Fair

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

 Kalimat Foundation has had a notable presence at the Sharjah International Book Fair 2024 (SIBF), showcasing its initiatives, supporting visually disabled children, and promoting inclusive education and providing books and reading materials to Arab children in need.

With the launch of 20 new audiobook titles, the donation of a portable library to Morocco as SIBF’s official Guest of Honour, and a variety of workshops, Kalimat Foundation’s pavilion has proven to be a lively hub of enriching activities and charitable endeavours that encourage community awareness and inclusivity.

Amna Al Mazmi, Director of Kalimat Foundation, highlighted the foundation’s strategic vision, stating: “The Sharjah International Book Fair is an important platform, offering us an opportunity to showcase our initiatives such as “Ara” and “Pledge a Library,” aimed at supporting the Arab children around the world and upholding their right to read and access books. It also fosters the development of partnerships and collaborations with like-minded organisations, paving the way for future initiatives.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our partners who contributed to making this mission possible, especially the publishing houses sharing our noble cause of supporting blind and visually impaired children, and filling the gap of accessible reading material in the MENA region. It is essential for all stakeholders in the publishing industry to come together to achieve this goal.”

A major highlight of Kalimat Foundation’s participation at SIBF 2024 is the introduction of 20 new book titles in audio format for visually disabled children.

These titles, produced in collaboration with six prominent publishing houses from the MENA region; namely, Kalimat Group, Altafarud Design and Publishing Services, Rabie Publishing House, Hudhud Publishing & Distribution, WOW for Publishing and Educational Services and Thaqafa Publishing House and Distribution; cover a wide range of genres for young readers aged 3-12. This initiative expands Kalimat Foundation’s accessible book catalogue, ensuring that children of all abilities have the opportunity to experience the magic of literature.

As part of its impactful “Pledge a Library” initiative, Kalimat Foundation donated a portable library containing 100 Arabic books to Morocco who are participating as the Guest of Honour for this year’s book fair. This collaboration with IBBY Morocco aims to enhance access to books for disadvantaged children in Morocco, reinforcing cultural exchange and promoting literacy; core aspects of Kalimat Foundation’s mission.

Amina Hachimi Al Aloui, President of IBBY Morocco, expressed her gratitude, stating, “Through the efforts of Kalimat Foundation, countless children in need have gained access to knowledge and stories in their own language. Through this collaboration and our shared commitment to literacy and education, we are providing quality Arabic literature to children in need, empowering young readers and strengthening cultural ties. This initiative demonstrates the importance of collaborative efforts in ensuring that every child, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to explore and learn through books.”

During the course of the book fair, Kalimat Foundation hosted a series of interactive workshops thematically aligned with some of the new audiobook titles as part of its “Ara” awareness campaign for inclusive education.

Organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Sharjah Private Education Authority, and the Emirates Association for Visually Impaired (EAVI), these workshops were led by Noura Bin Hadda, Founder of “La Vie Dolls;” Samya Ayish, a journalist and children's book author; and Nahky Araby, a language academy for children. They brought together sighted and visually impaired students for creative, sensory storytelling sessions and hands-on activities.

An additional highlight was an immersive activity led by Raneem Ahmed, a visually impaired Braille specialist, who taught participants how to use the Perkins Brailler machine to customise a bookmark while sharing her knowledge of the Braille alphabet and printing.

Kalimat Foundation’s pavilion at SIBF 2024 also features two merchandise lines, with proceeds supporting various charitable initiatives.

The “Stitching Hope for Gaza” merchandise with designs inspired by the traditional Palestinian Keffiyeh and Tatreez, contributes to the Emirates Red Crescent's “Tarahum - For Gaza” campaign, providing humanitarian relief for those affected in Gaza.