Qatar Foundation (QF), in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Sports, yesterday unveiled “Qatar Reads”, an initiative to build on the success of its National Reading Campaign, and create a culture of reading that places storytelling and discovery at the heart of the nation.
Innovative, inclusive, and connecting with different audiences in tailored and interactive ways, Qatar Reads aims to encourage and inspire Qatar’s community to recognise how reading opens up pathways of knowledge and opportunities for social engagement, shapes future leaders – and takes those who pick up a book on a journey driven by imagination and exploration.
The goal of Qatar Reads is to foster a nation of readers by emphasising the enduring relevance of the written word, and opening eyes and minds to the possibilities for discovery and enjoyment that it presents.
With the Ministry of Culture and Sports as its strategic partner, the movement will promote values, mindsets, and reading habits that help people to widen their perspectives and horizons.
The momentum created by the National Reading Campaign – which primarily focused on engaging those aged 18 and under – will be capitalised on by Qatar Reads as it reaches out to people with differing needs, lifestyles, and characteristics, from young children and their families to teenagers, university students, and teachers.
Specialised programmes, initiatives, and channels will be used to inspire a collective, Qatar-wide love of reading.
Minister of Culture and Sports HE Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali commended the Qatar Reads initiative.
“Reading is rooted in Arab-Islamic civilisation as our religion places much importance on seeking knowledge. With knowledge, mankind has been elevated from the rest of the creatures on earth.
“The sacredness of knowledge is deeply rooted in our religion, as the first word in the Holy Qur’an is ‘Recite’,” the minister said.
“Reading should not be limited to achieving personal, short-lived goals,” he said. “Rather, the knowledge gained through reading should be for the betterment of society.
“These perspectives are reflected in the mission of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, which aims to educate society, and equip them with knowledge.
“The Ministry of Culture and Sports values this partnership, and will harness its full potential to further the success of the initiative.”
“Reading is an important source of knowledge, and it plays a central role in shaping the minds of individuals within society,” he added.
“Reading is an integral element of nurturing a society of leaders – equipped with knowledge, broad and open mindsets, and positive values, and empowered to make learning a constant part of their lives,” said Machaille al-Naimi, president of community development at QF.
“It prompts a desire for exploration and discovery, qualities that are valuable in life and vital for the future of Qatar and the generation who will shape that future,” she said. “Reading is also a catalyst for imagination, taking people – especially young people – on a journey to new destinations in their lives and their minds.”
“Qatar Reads is the natural, innovative next step for the movement initially represented by QF’s National Reading Campaign,” al-Naimi added.
“It will drive engagement with reading in new ways, and have a new audience scope, but its overarching purpose will be the same – to raise awareness of the value of reading, not only for intellectual stimulation, but for discovery and enjoyment,” the QF official said.