Kalimat Foundation unveils 20 new audiobooks for visually disabled and gifts portable library to Morocco’s IBBY at SIBF 2024

Date Posted 02 Nov 2024

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 audio book 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.”

Launch of 20 new audiobook titles for visually impaired children

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 five prominent publishing houses from the MENA region; namely, Kalimat Group, Altafarud Design and Publishing Services, Rabie Publishing House, Hudhud Publishing & Distribution, and WOW for Publishing and Educational Services; 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.

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.

Close Bitnami banner
Bitnami