QF school students promote sustainability, Qatar's heritage through power of words

Young storytellers from Qatar Foundation (QF) who became social media stars after meeting His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, at Doha International Book Fair, are promoting sustainability, the exchange of knowledge, and the cultural heritage of Qatar through their love of reading and writing.

The students from Tariq Bin Ziad School and Qatar Academy Al Khor – both part of Qatar Foundation’s Pre-University Education – gained an unexpected audience when they were filmed telling His Highness the Amir about how they aim to inspire people through their passion for books.

Among them was Maryam Hamad al-Qahtani, an eight-year-old student at Tariq Bin Ziad School. Together with her fellow students, she is a winner of QF’s Akhlaquna Junior Award, which recognises children and young people who exhibit strong values and good moral character. And at the book fair, she shared her 'Donate and Read' initiative with visitors, explaining to them how it stems from her appetite for reading and her strong belief in the importance of sustainability.

“Talking to His Highness the Amir about my initiative was incredible,” she said. “He really cared and listened to me. It made me feel special and excited to share books with everyone, because I want reading to be fun and to help the planet too. I think everyone in the community should read and exchange books that they have read and no longer need.

“Through this initiative, I want to share information and books with other people, and help children in particular to have a love of reading.”

Hamad al-Muraikhi, another eight-year-old student at Tariq Bin Ziad School, discovered his love for literature at a young age, encouraged by his family. And he was also delighted to have the opportunity to share his own work with His Highness the Amir - he recently became an author with his first book, 'Equestrian Race.'

“When His Highness the Amir took a copy of my story, I felt super happy,” he said. “It’s amazing to think he liked what I wrote, and now I am inspired to continue writing and sharing stories with others.

"Reading stories has become my passion. It has allowed me to learn important values like respect, co-operation, and friendship, and also gives me the opportunity to share these values with my friends."

Mohamed Helal al-Muhannadi, a 10-year-old student at Qatar Academy Al Khor, has recently showcased his literary talent by authoring a book titled 'Dalla and Finjian’. The story aims to familiarise people from other Arab countries with Qatari customs and traditions, particularly the art of welcoming and hosting guests. And this is not his first venture into writing, as he has also written a story, called ‘My Prayer, the Light of My Life’.

Through his illustrated story, al-Muhannadi believes that books are a valuable way of educating people and fostering cultural awareness, saying: "I believe that books are a powerful way of learning.

“That's why I chose to share Qatari culture through an illustrated story. Reading is like food for the mind; it helps us develop our knowledge and understanding of different cultures."

His journey with books has not only honed his own literary skills, but also allowed him to practice the art of public speaking. He has conducted workshops for his schoolmates, empowering them to discover their own storytelling abilities.

The power of words has also made its impact on Hamad Saad al-Misnad, who is 10 years old and is also a student at Qatar Academy Al Khor as he said: "Reading has been my companion since I was just five years old, and it has brought so much strength and happiness into my life.

“Through the stories I read, my mind fills with ideas that help my own writing. I believe that stories can develop children's ideas, so we can express ourselves through writing.”