Bodour Al Qasimi: Knowledge is the Key to Development, Dialogue and Peace for Future Generations Worldwide

“Knowledge is the key to development, dialogue and peace for future generations worldwide,” said Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and CEO of Kalimat Group and Founder and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Kalimat Foundation for Children’s Empowerment.

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi’s remarks came during the first meeting of Kalimat Foundation’s Board of Trustees, which took place at Al Majaz waterfront. Held in the presence of Sheikha Jameela Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Kalimat Foundation; Majid Jafar, Treasurer and UN Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, Board member, the meeting underlined the need to provide books and reading material to children in underprivileged areas and in regions affected by crises and conflicts.

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi welcomed the board members and thanked them for their support and contribution to the achievement of the humanitarian vision and objectives of the Kalimat Foundation, which aims to ensure that every child in the world can enjoy easy access to books and other sources of knowledge, as well as to raise community awareness about the importance of reading for a better future.

“Children in many parts of the world do not have access to books and find it very difficult to acquire knowledge due to challenging circumstances in their countries. These adverse situations are threatening their futures and preventing them from achieving their dreams and ambitions,” said Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi.

“At Kalimat Foundation we believe that it is essential for us to work towards ensuring the future of these children through the medium of books. Ultimately, we aim to create an educated generation that can understand the concepts of dialogue and peace and who are able to utilise knowledge to service their communities and humanity. Part of our operational scope also sees us providing books for special groups of children around the world who have difficulty reading, in particular children who are visually impaired,” Sheikha Bodour added.

The first meeting of Kalimat Foundation’s Board of Trustees discussed the plans of the foundation and the required mechanisms to activate its role as an Emirati initiative dedicated to serving humanity. It reiterated that this responsibility was taken in line with its belief in the right of all children to have access to books and to obtain knowledge, irrespective of their nationality, cultural background, religion or social status.

For her part, Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, said; “Many countries across the world are witnessing instability because of war, conflict and natural disasters. Consequently, children in these countries are suffering in many respects, including finding it extremely difficult to acquire knowledge. Their predicament is to risk their lives to get access to books or to risk their future without them. Such inhumane circumstances take away children’s basic right to learn and this is the challenge that Kalimat Foundation for Children’s Empowerment seeks to overcome.”

During the meeting, board member and UN ambassador Lana Nusseibeh highlighted the UAE's humanitarian approach, which she said distinguishes itself through its efforts across the world. She outlined how the country launches initiatives to help sisterly and friendly countries, as well as rehabilitates affected peoples by providing them with the necessary means to live in better conditions. She added that providing children with books is a vital humanitarian initiative because of their role in fostering noble human values.

Majid Jafar spoke of the importance of reading by saying that the cultural development of societies leads to them benefitting economically, socially and scientifically. He noted that people who recognise and celebrate their culture are better able to create stable and sustainable societies that lead to even greater advancement. He praised Sheikha Bodour's efforts to ensure that books and learning materials are easily accessible for children who face challenges, either by being denied physical access to them or by having inadequate means to purchase them.

In April 2016, Shaikha Bodour Al Qasimi launched Kalimat Foundation in conjunction with World Book Day. Headquartered in Sharjah, the organisation is dedicated to providing books, reading material and sources of knowledge to children in underprivileged areas and regions affected by crises and conflicts. It also strives to enable teaching staff and parents to help children obtain their right to education and knowledge.

The Foundation’s Board of Trustees include: Sheikha Jameela Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Kalimat Foundation; Isobel Abulhoul, Secretary General; Majid Jafar, Treasurer, Lana Nusseibeh, Board member.

Kalimat Foundation works to ensure the fundamental right of every child to read and to promote books as being the optimal means to develop children’s mental and social abilities. This stems from its belief in the power of books to positively impact future generations. The foundation aspires through its initiatives to facilitate easy access to books for public libraries, refugee children and densely populated areas.