Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan: reading initiative keeps hospitalised children connected to education

• Published date: 08 October 2014
• Publication title: Wam

H.H. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, has stressed the importance of the "Wanna Read?" initiative, which was launched last January to encourage children unable to attend school due to illness, to pursue their education.

The initiative, which was launched in Mafraq Hospital, was developed to promote education amongst children staying in hospital and to enable them to pursue their studies during sick leave.

In an exclusive interview with Emirates News Agency, WAM, H.H. Sheikha Shamma said that the programme's longterm goals are to enhance and continue the education of children by reading, saying that it has brought happiness and joy to the children that she has met during her recent visit to the hospital's new paediatric unit.

When asked if there were any agreements or Memoranda of Understanding planned with the Abu Dhabi Education Council or the Ministry of Education to disseminate the idea to schools, Sheikha Shamma said, "At this stage ideas are being looked into. As we are all aware, the summer months in the U.A.E. can at times be very difficult. We are considering the merits and practicality of extending the programme with the participation of schools to include summer reading, creative writing and book clubs. The benefits of continuing education throughout the summer months within the comfort of peer review and the safety of schools is one that is being considered. Longterm, there is a natural extension of such seasonal programmes to be available all year round, but we need to do our research first." When...