‘Reading for Pleasure’ conference launched
DUBAI: Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) attended the “Reading for Pleasure’ conference, which was organised for the first time in the region by the Emirates Literature Foundation.
The conference opened with a keynote speech by Isobel Abulhoul OBE, Founder, Adviser and Trustee, Emirates Literature Foundation.
The inaugural event also witnessed a panel discussion on the “Global Focus on Reading for Pleasure’ with Debbie Thomas, one of three lecturers for Reading for Pleasure in the UK; Dr Loh Chin Ee, Deputy Head of Research at the English Language and Literature Academic Group, National Institute of Education, Singapore; and Prof Hanada Tahathomure, the endowed Chair Professor of Arabic Language, Zayed University.
The two-day conference, which hosted more than 50 local and international experts, aimed to explore the profound impact reading can have on lives, with a particular focus on the critical roles that home and school environments, parents, educators, academics, researchers, and the scientific community play in fostering a love for reading.
This aligns with the stated goals of the Dubai Social Agenda 33 envisioned by Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to promote close-knit, tolerant, and happy families and an education system that serves to enrich human capital.
Isobel Abulhoul OBE said: “The Reading for Pleasure conference is not only relevant to our current times but also addresses an urgent need to ensure the success of future generations. We are incredibly fortunate to have these eminent speakers among us, and we are deeply grateful to our many partners and supporters, without whom this event and the wider Reading for Pleasure project would not be possible. All sessions are being recorded and will be available for parents, teachers, and librarians. If there’s one key takeaway from this conference, it is that we must work together to encourage children to cherish books and find joy in reading.”