The road to empowerment

Bodour Al Qasimi

Founder and Chairperson

‘As for the public response to initiatives, following the September 2017 Pledge a Library launch, the foundation received 100 promises for donations in its first ten days – testament to the country’s respect for reading, literature and culture.’

Kalimat Foundation began operations in 2016, to protect the rights of vulnerable and visually disabled children, and their ability to access books. The period was marked by obdurate civil conflict in the Middle East, including Syria, from where large populations fled to new countries and new cultural contexts. The same decade was also signified by growing requests from host nations for Arabic literature. Hand in hand with this call to action, to serve children in new territories and communities, came the step to support the literacy of visually impaired and blind youth, again underserved in their access to suitable reading material.

The paths taken by Pledge a Library and Ara; the foundation’s two main distribution programmes have often faced challenge. Regarding Pledge a Library, administering logistics was sometimes hard, as was receiving approvals where security concerns arose, particularly in public libraries and refugee camps. With Ara, decisions and book deliveries were hampered by obstacles ranging from a lack of guidelines supporting the production of accessible books, to a dearth in population demographics and scant information on organisations that serve those children.

Kalimat Foundation’s credibility has, nonetheless, been widely recognised, thanks to the standing of Kalimat Group in publishing and in the capacity for tailoring books based upon recipient demands. With effort, diligence and assistance from the United Arab Emirates’ foreign missions, intergovernmental and NGO partners; books have since made their way, or been committed to, migrant camps, migrant and community centres, libraries, schools and hospitals around the world. Here is a brief summary on progress over the in the past six years.

Outset Programme at Emirati Jordanian Camp and Eid with Them

In May 2017, a singular 1,000 book donation – a forerunner to Pledge a Library – made to Emirati Jordanian camp, was followed by another visit in September, with the purpose of celebrating the Islamic Eid Al Adha festival with the children.

These occasions, delivering insight to the existence that refugees live, and the lack of literary resources, spurred the further development of the foundation’s book distribution programming.

Pledge a Library and Ara

As for the public response to initiatives, following the September 2017 Pledge a Library launch, the foundation received 100 promises for donations in its first ten days – testament to the country’s respect for reading, literature and culture.

A first shipment of collections to Paris in March 2018, resulted in their utility for the country’s national Arabic reading competition. One of our readership swept first prize and gained entry to the Arab Reading Challenge in Dubai. Following Paris, requests came pouring in for Pledge a Library, where the foundation’s response transformed in a manner, to quenching a thirst for books. Europe subsequently became an arena needing significant literacy support in Arabic. In Italy, to help bridge the cultural gap, bilingual books were produced as result of partnership between Gallucci Publishing and Kalimat Group.

Jordan’s refugee camps on the other hand represented a different reality where schooling and education were more limited in resources. It is possibly for this reason that our books were integrated into extracurricular programmes.

Consequently, the library at Emirati Jordanian camp became a social hub for its boys and girls who, excited with the arrival of new book collections, stated their wish for all-night sit-ins and sleepovers. Further north at Zaatari, the foundation donated 20 libraries to Blumont, a humanitarian organisation, to help build a respectable collection providing for the settlement’s large population. Book clubs, storytelling gatherings and character role plays subsequently became new community repertories here, as they did in other parts of the world receiving donations. Added to this, with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions on movement, books became a useful aid to while time away for the children to read in their caravan homes.

With the Ara programme, in 2018 the foundation undertook a regional survey to gain a first-hand understanding of resources and needs amongst visually disabled child populations. Close to 20,000 youngsters were identified, together with information on age groups, teaching resources, teaching methods, literature available, literature in demand and the capacity to use technology.

Research data provided a privileged view upon which our strategy is based. A partnership agreement with the Accessible Books Consortium on collaboration for accessible publishing in Arabic, followed suit in November 2018. Training in born-accessible production was provided to regional imprints five months later with the aim of increasing the availability of accessible Arabic titles.

In reflection of the advances made by Ara, the programme was shortlisted for its first time at the Accessible Books Consortium International Excellence Awards in February 2020 under the initiative category. Furthermore, following the production of 100 books in Arabic using the EPUB3 format in April 2020, the foundation began on the preparations and submissions necessary for access to the ABC Global Book Service, the objective of which being to expand its accessible publishing remit.

Leveraging support following the onset of COVID-19

Progress did not come without witnessing some of the harsh realities experienced by those that the foundation serves. A number of youngsters in refugee camps for instance, evidencing prodigious talent redoubled by blazing ambition, are limited in their access to material that would otherwise help them advance. English literature, grammar, science and maths being examples. Where the foundation has not been able to offer direct support, it has taken requests and amplified needs to international organisations capable of such provision. In this regard we do our best to extend help within our networks.

Reeling from the effects of the pandemic, 2020 was a hard year, not least for global publishing and those whom Kalimat Foundation works to serve. The ecosystem was thrown into flux carving out new considerations and new equilibrium. Books continued to be delivered to the Hekaya Arts literary initiative in Kenya where the schooling system was severely affected, and to Siilaanyo National Library in Hargeisa in the Somaliland region. Active communication continued with a number of beneficiaries across the globe, whose operations were also badly interrupted.

During lockdown, the foundation’s strategy with Ara, to give every child material in braille, large print and audio worked particularly well with one-on-one reading where parents in some instances used the large print, or listened to audio recordings, while their son or daughter read braille.

Notwithstanding the benefits delivered in print formats; e-books and digital libraries started to become very popular. As such the distribution objective turned to allocating resources to print and digital publishing on an equal split.

2021 represented sustained forward advance in supporting literacy. With the development of accessible digital publishing and traditional formats, the year witnessed expansion into Africa and further afield. In this regard, we were delighted to announce partnership with Book Aid International to help cement the effective achievement in our planning and distribution.

2022: stepping up and beyond the clouds

With typically relentless commitment, the operational team continued to make the opportunities for literacy amongst disadvantaged and visually disabled Arabic-speaking youth more viable in 2022. By September that hard work culminated in landmark achievement, in the license granted by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Economy to publish titles in accessible formats. According to the statutes of the Marrakesh Treaty, when it comes to accessible book production, Kalimat Foundation can utilise and share publications through a global repository, representing an immeasurable wealth of literary resource.

In October 2022, the Accessible Books Consortium (ABC) granted the foundation authorised entity status, allowing privileged use of its Global Book Service. As for the following month, November, Ara was shortlisted for the second time at the ABC Excellence Awards for Accessible Publishing under the initiatives category.

Today Kalimat Foundation has 113 digital accessible titles to its name, all of which are in e-book format, targetting Arabic speakers of school-going age, between three and 17 years.

Evidencing pace and momentum, at the end of 2022, 37,664 books in print braille, large print, audio and e-book formats have been donated by the foundation, signifying a rise of 43% on the total number books distributed on the previous year, and where new territories for distribution; Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and Morocco affirmed further commitment in Africa.

The Kalimat Foundation team

Lana Nusseibeh

Board of Trustees Member

Lana Nusseibeh

Board of Trustees Member

‘As for the public response to initiatives, following the September 2017 Pledge a Library launch, the foundation received 100 promises for donations in its first ten days – testament to the country’s respect for the importance of reading and literature.’

Kalimat Foundation began operations in 2016, to protect the rights of vulnerable and visually disabled children, and their ability to access books. The period was marked by obdurate civil conflict in the Middle East, including Syria, from where large populations fled to new countries and new cultural contexts. The same decade was also signified by growing requests from host nations for Arabic literature. Hand in hand with this call to action, to serve children in new territories and communities, came the step to support the literacy of visually impaired and blind youth, again underserved in their access to suitable reading material.

The paths taken by our Pledge a Library and Ara programmes, have not been without challenge. Regarding Pledge a Library, administering logistics was sometimes very hard, as was receiving approvals where security concerns arose, particularly in public libraries and refugee camps. With Ara, decisions and book deliveries were hampered by obstacles ranging from a lack of guidelines supporting the production of accessible books, to a dearth in population demographics and scant information on organisations that serve those children.

Kalimat Foundation’s credibility has, nonetheless, been widely recognised, thanks to the standing of Kalimat Group in publishing and in the capacity for tailoring books based upon recipient demands. With effort, diligence and assistance from the United Arab Emirates’ foreign missions, 22,405 books have since made their way, or been committed to, migrant camps, migrant and community centres, libraries, schools and hospitals around the world. Here is a brief summary on how we have progressed on programming in the past five years.

Outset programme at Emirati-Jordanian camp and Eid with them

In May 2017, a singular 1,000 book donation made to Emirati-Jordanian camp, a forerunner to Pledge a Library, was followed by a subsequent visit in September, with the purpose of celebrating the Islamic Eid Al Adha festival with its children.

These occasions, delivering insight to the existence that refugees live, and the lack of literary resources, spurred the further development of the foundation’s book distribution programming.

Pledge a Library and Ara

As for the public response to initiatives, following the September 2017 Pledge a Library launch, the foundation received 100 promises for donations in its first ten days – testament to the country’s respect for the importance of reading, literature and culture.

A first shipment of collections to Paris in March 2018, resulted in their utility for the country’s national Arabic reading competition. One of our readership swept first prize and gained entry to the Arab Reading Challenge in Dubai. Following Paris, requests came pouring in for Pledge a Library, where the foundation’s response transformed in a manner, to quenching a thirst for books. Europe became an arena needing literacy support in Arabic, though welfare systems tend to be robust. In Italy, to help bridge the cultural gap, bilingual books were produced as result of partnership between Gallucci Publishing and Kalimat Group.

Jordan’s refugee camps on the other hand represented a different reality where schooling and education have been more limited. It is possibly for this reason that our books were integrated into extracurricular programmes.

Consequently, the library at Emirati Jordanian camp has become a social hub for its boys and girls who, excited with the arrival of new book collections, have stated their wish for all-night sit-ins and sleepovers. Further north, at Zaatari, the foundation donated 20 libraries to Blumont in order to help build a respectable collection covering the settlement’s large population. Book clubs, storytelling gatherings, character role plays subsequently became new community repertories here, as they did in other parts of the world receiving donations. Added to this, with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions on movement, books became a useful aid to while time away for the children to read while in their caravan homes.

As for the Ara programme, in 2018 the foundation undertook a regional survey to gain a firsthand, unique understanding of resources and needs amongst visually disabled child populations. Close to 20,000 youngsters were identified, together with information on age groups, teaching resources, teaching methods, literature available, literature in demand and the capacity to use technology. Such data has provided a privileged view upon which our strategy is based. A partnership agreement with the Accessible Books Consortium on collaboration in accessible publishing in Arabic, followed suit in November 2018 and training provided to regional imprints five months later. In reflection of the advances made by Ara, the programme was shortlisted for the Accessible Books Consortium International Excellence Awards in February 2020 under the initiative category. Furthermore, following the production of 100 books in Arabic using the EPUB3 format in April 2020, the foundation anticipates the online publication of its books on the ABC Global Book Service for worldwide availability.

Leveraging support, COVID-19 and moving forward

Progress has not come without witnessing some of the harsh realities experienced by those that the foundation seeks to serve. A number of youngsters in refugee camps for instance, evidence prodigious talent, redoubled by blazing ambition to do well in life. However, they are greatly limited in their access to material that would help them advance. English literature and grammar, science, astronomy, maths and music being examples. Where the foundation has not been able to offer direct support, it has taken requests and amplified needs to international organisations capable of such supply. In this regard we do our best to extend help within our networks.

Reeling from the effects of the pandemic, 2020 was a hard year, not least for global publishing and those whom Kalimat Foundation works to serve. The ecosystem was thrown into flux defining new considerations and new equilibrium. Books continued to be delivered to the Hekaya Arts literary initiative in Kenya where the schooling system was severely affected, and to Siilaanyo library in Hargeisa in the Somaliland region. Active communication continued with a number of beneficiaries across the globe, whose operations were also badly interrupted.

During lockdown, the foundation’s strategy with Ara, to give every child material in braille, large print and audio worked particularly well with one-on-one reading where parents in some instances used the large print, or listened to audio recordings, while their son or daughter read braille.

Notwithstanding the benefits delivered in print formats; e-books and digital libraries have also become very popular. As such the objective now is to allocate resources to print and digital publishing on an equal split. The new move involves international collaboration, and we expect the best of both worlds.

2021 represents an exciting stage, pushing forward and advancing further in supporting literacy amongst the underserved. Together with the development of accessible digital publishing and distribution via online platforms and traditional formats, the year ahead also represents expansion into Africa and further afield. In this regard, we are delighted to announce partnership with Book Aid International to help cement the effective achievement in our planning and distribution.

Our effort thus continues to leverage a number of global partners in publishing, technology, national and international government, and organisations in the charities segment. Kalimat Foundation’s mission is to serve vulnerable and visually disabled children, to provide them with knowledge and ideas in books, through a number of accessible formats. In this it is believed that the underserved are to find the chance to develop and achieve greater prospects in life, and fittingly, greater reward.


The Kalimat Foundation team

Jameela Al Qasimi

Vice Chairperson

Isobel Abulhoul

Secretary General

Majid H. Jafar

Treasurer

‘We have had on two occasions girls come to the library and literally jump up and down with joy when they saw the books.’

Three and half years on from its November 2017 launch, Pledge a Library partners and recipients have commented on results arising from book donations. A number of common gains have emerged, some of which were foreseen from the outset, while others have transpired with time. The development of literacy in Arabic and its contribution to formal education, is considered a key benefit amongst organisations receiving books on the Pledge a Library programme. In northern Jordan’s Zaatari camp, housing a population of about 80,000 refugees from Syria, Blumont, a not-for-profit organisation responsible for a community-based protection project, manages the libraries sent by Kalimat Foundation.

According to Siraj Al-Hmoud, the senior camp manager, up to 2,000 children aged from two to 17 years old, have access to the books. Through Blumont’s Tiger reading club, literacy has become an integral component to a holistic learning framework constituting Arabic and English languages, ICT and art. Outreach programmes that push into Zaatari’s districts by way of mobile libraries, have also been implemented to foster community spirit. Libraries in the refugee camp have subsequently become a cornerstone of everyday life, in which children, parents, businesses and institutions all partake in lending and reading opportunities.

Elsewhere, in East Africa, in the Somaliland region, Siilaanyo public library in Hargeisa, hosts 30 schools and 120 pupils a week, where the foundation’s books occupy a children’s corner used in group reading sessions. Hargeisa is a city that accommodates migrant communities from the Horn of Africa, who find residence for economic purpose, or who arrive having been displaced because of conflict, insecurity or drought. The public library is as such a unique service providing a formative stage for literacy development. In Kenya, Hekaya Arts’ Sona Sama initiative, has plans to employ the collection donated to it, to encourage a multilingual reading culture encompassing Kiswahili, English and Arabic amongst schools in its network. Accordingly, the progression of language education in Africa, has embodied a new phase in Pledge a Library’s evolution. Social interaction, community development and achievement amongst migrant groups, reflects another key role for the programme.

In Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy two sisters amongst Kalimat Foundation’s book readership in France, came first and third in the country’s 2018 national Arabic language reading competition. For Tasnim, the elder sibling, 12 years old at the time, the accomplishment gained her participation at the Arab Reading Challenge in Dubai, in the same year. It is for a similar purpose; to prepare for the international competition, that children have visited Athens-based We Need Books, an NGO providing multilingual libraries for the city’s residents. Beyond this, states Ioanna Nissiriou, co-founder of the Greek reading initiative, ‘We have had on two occasions girls come to the library and literally jump up and down with joy when they saw the books.’

Strengthening cultural ties thus forms another bedrock of the programme, where preserving homeland traditions is seen as key to cementing belonging and developing confidence. One partner vested in the Pledge a Library programme is Italy’s section of the International Board on Books for Young People. With regard to migrant and refugee communities, Marcella Terrusi, an IBBY volunteer and assistant professor in education at the University of Bologna states the importance of reading in the mother tongue, and keeping links with identity and origins, to improve prospects in later life. She goes on to assert that in linguistics, studies suggest that youngsters should sustain the native language in order to learn a new one. Parallel language development, hence considered a critical factor for integration, was further aided by the production of bilingual titles in Arabic and Italian, through partnership between Italy’s Gallucci publishing and Kalimat Group. Hence in 11 libraries across Italy, in cities, villages and islands, the Pledge a Library collections are understood to form a bridge, leading toward development, stability and growth.

In similar vein in Brazil, Deise Zanardi of SP Leituras, the São Paulo Association of Libraries and Reading, an NGO whose objective it is to promote culture, reading and literature, goes further to comment, that learning about others – an important theme running through Kalimat books – is encouraged amongst children from varying national backgrounds when they come and visit.

The holding onto cultural bonds marks the purpose for which São Paolo’s Escola Islâmica Brasileira was founded by Lebanese migrants, states Imam Al Bukai, one of its directors, where the foundation’s books are seen as fitting its purpose.

The availability of print books has constituted another paramount benefit amongst recipients, particularly in poorer areas where electricity and mobile data access are limited; a point reinforced by Clair Bradley, trusts and foundation manager of the United Kingdom’s Book Aid International, responsible for the Hargeisa book delivery. Similarly, Abdulrahman Ndegwa, managing director and curator of the Hekaya Arts Initiative identifies the intimacy and closeness that books in physical form engender, ‘Closeness, as we say, breeds affection, and affection breeds love.’ A closeness and love that many parents will recognise, in the level of absorption that their children derive in reading, and more, their desire to narrate stories just read.

Pledge a Library is set to move further ahead in 2021, with plans to extend its reach to places where underserved youngsters need books in the Arabic language. In the provision of libraries, and of engaging stories and characters, the drive for equitable literacy is expected to accelerate, as is the forging of gains so far realised and new ones, leading to more literate, more confident persons in adulthood and the better ability to face a future world.

‘The key is always education. If children who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled can complete their schooling and experience no barriers in obtaining a higher education, the sky is the limit.’

The universe in which visually disabled children are educated, and cared for, requires substantial attention to needs. One that is embodied by manifest purpose, to guide and set a path for those whose worlds are shrouded in darkness, or obscurity, and where light, colour and form can be non-existent. Managing the futures of youth with such incapacity hence demands great responsibility. Where Kalimat Foundation has offered its support in aiding literacy, we have asked programme partners and recipients on some of the outcomes resulting from Ara interventions.

In respect to organisations that have benefited from, and supported Ara, their remits are often wide-ranging and include schooling and enrolment into education, life skills development, health, welfare and the progression of accessible publishing. In the Middle East context, where books in Arabic are often not readily available, Kalimat Foundation has worked to identify how best it can encourage reading.

With regard to Ara’s distribution, the giving of accessible books in different formats, namely braille, large print and audio is widely recognised as being a key advantage, to cater to both visually impaired and blind audiences. In addition, amongst recipients, the availability of audio books has been particularly supportive, for the reason that it allows sharing and understanding amongst people of differing abilities. In reference to the foundation’s large print books, these have been distinguished by their visible lettering, spacing, and colour schemes, for clear legibility, according to Anjad Zahdeh of the Blind Charitable Society in Hebron.

On the other hand, significant emphasis is given on the provision of books in print braille format, a costly publishing resource in some parts of the Middle East. This factor pointed to by Khaled Al Ahmed, assistant director at Al Noor School in Kuwait City, has been much valued when positioned against both the suitability of titles for the school’s pupils and the respective outlay it would require in purchasing such material.

The Emirates Association of the Visually Impaired, amongst whose objectives it is to build skills for productive lives, is a partner and beneficiary on the Ara programme. This organisation, guides on the correct use of braille language in Arabic, and prints Kalimat titles in braille. Commenting on the foundation’s work, Mais Ahmed of the EAVI mentions that effort amongst institutions to support publishing for the visually disabled develops greater awareness, open mindedness and acceptance, resulting in integration throughout society. Such beliefs are echoed by Majd Al Shehhi, initiatives director at 1001 Titles, a publishing programme and collaborator with Ara, that aims to encourage creativity in authoring in the Emirates, and develop recognition for accessible books.

Ara is set to spread its wings in 2021, with wider global reach and the integration of digital accessible content, to extend access to more visually disabled readers. On this matter, Monica Lövblad, head of the Accessible Books Consortium, asserts that in the employment of technology, publishers can make their books born accessible, and hence available from the beginning to the visually disabled. If born accessible publishing is not available, she continues, source digital files could be offered to libraries or associations for the blind, that own the resources to convert literature more easily to the right formats.

As for expectations on what the blind and visually impaired could achieve if reading technologies were made available, ‘The key is always education’ continues Ms. Lövblad, ‘If children who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled, can complete their schooling and experience no barriers in obtaining a higher education, the sky is the limit.’

Through working hard, and in keeping faithful to the literacy needs of those who cannot see, the foundation has taken strides to ensure that blind and visually impaired youth stay in touch with the future, in order that they keep step with the world as it advances.

As a publisher and a mother, seeing my children’s eyes light up when they open a book for the first time, I find it hard to accept that millions of boys and girls are still not able to benefit from the joy that reading presents. It has subsequently become my mission, to deliver books into the hands of underserved youth in the region and worldwide, with the belief that we owe vulnerable young minds a better narrative in life.

Reading ignites curiosity, sparks the imagination, encourages dialogue and opens the doors to a variety of creative possibilities. I want to bring this magic into as many lives as possible. In 2016, I launched Kalimat Foundation to empower underprivileged children through books, with the expectation that this might lead toward literacy and more prosperous futures. In honour of this pursuit, we have since sent collections to communities in rural areas, hospitals, orphanages, refugee camps, libraries and schools. Our greatest distribution efforts are for displaced children from the Middle East, largely affected by war, and those with visual disabilities. The contribution toward the former aims to preserve the cultural identity for ones separated from their homelands, and to promote the region’s heritage and the Arabic language. For the blind and visually impaired, the objective is to develop literacy to advance self-dependence and integration into society.

Every project and programme launched revolves around our purpose. We have in total, committed and delivered a touch above 22,400 books in 23 countries. Through the ‘Pledge a Library’ initiative, 12,500 books have been donated offering access to an approximate 89,000 youngsters in four continents. We have further received delightful news of the evolution of book clubs comprising our titles, in recipient locations around the world. With Ara, meaning ‘I see’ in Arabic, the foundation offers audio, large-print, and print braille books to visually disabled boys and girls, and their families in order that they read, or listen to, stories together.

Correspondingly, insight is offered in this report on our activity, progress, international footprint, recipient and partner input, as well as statistics on book distribution. I am grateful to our partners, for the diligence and support given in advising where to deliver books and libraries, and for their involvement in publishing. I would also like to thank our sponsors for the very generous donations, making this endeavour for knowledge possible. Covid-19 has been exceptionally challenging for children’s education and the drive toward literacy. It has accelerated the need to develop online technologies in reading support – a format that is being called for, from places as far afield as Zaatari refugee camp in northern Jordan to São Paulo in Brazil.

We shall continue to work very hard to nurture underserved boys and girls, to promote reading’s transformative potential, and pass on the best of our living culture. A better future sits between the pages of many books. The purpose that began as a seed in a mother’s mind, is now a global movement that we hope will take root, diversify and grow. Our ultimate goal is to close the literacy gap and drive more equitable futures for those who experience tremendous difficulties at a young age.

Bodour Al Qasimi, Founder and Chairperson