Kalimat empowers youth through the wonder of books
Where Braille can become a constellation of wonder: In a quiet library corner in Sharjah, a 10-year-old girl named Lina runs her fingertips across a page of raised dots. She cannot see with her eyes, but through the gentle bumps of Braille she reads a story about the stars, each dot guides her through constellations of words, and in her mind's eye, Lina's vision is clear. It was all made possible by Kalimat Foundation's 'Ara' initiative (Arabic for 'I see'), which is dedicated to producing Arabic books in accessible formats for children like Lina.
Through 'Ara', stories once out of reach now arrive in many forms: tactile Braille books, bold large-print texts, EPUB 3, warm and engaging audio narrations, even interactive e-books that work with text-to-speech technology. The initiative also provides the same titles in print, ensuring sighted and visually impaired children can share the same reading experiences and learn together.
This triumph for children with visual impairments is one of many under the 'Ara' initiative, which reflects a simple but profound truth: every child has the right to read, regardless of ability; and 'Ara' has helped produce and distribute tens of thousands of accessible books across the Arab world, greatly filling the gap in accessible Arabic literature. By building a culture where publishers are supported in creating these accessible formats, visually impaired children are no longer left in the margins of literature.
In the words of Amna Al Mazmi, Kalimat Foundation's Director: 'This initiative embodies Sharjah's unwavering belief in the power of literature to provide refuge, hope, and a window to a vast world of knowledge and imagination, even in the most challenging circumstances.' Lina's journey is testament to that vision, and through 'Ara', she sees not only the stars on a page, but a future that is bright and boundless, just like the imagination those stories sparked.
How books can rebuild a sense of home: Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away, a boy named Malik stands at the entrance of a tent in a refugee camp, clutching an Arabic story book, his mother tongue. Malik was forced to leave most of his prized possessions behind including his books, however, Kalimat Foundation has given him a lifeline to knowledge and wonder, thanks to a little library on wheels under their 'Pledge a Library' initiative.
'Pledge a Library' delivers compact, portable libraries containing 100 Arabic books each to communities in need. When it arrived at Malik's camp, it sparked celebration and children crowded around as the foundation's volunteers unpacked colourful titles; for these young refugees, each book offered normalcy, a cultural link, and a step forward. These books serve as an important tool to help maintain cultural ties while easing integration into their new community, as well as help children like Malik find refuge within their imagination. Malik's experience is echoed in countless communities, from refugee camps to remote villages, and since its inception, 'Pledge a Library' has delivered these invaluable treasures to displaced and underserved communities worldwide with over 18,700 books distributed in 27 countries, and reaching more than 115,000 children.
Pages of hope and bridges of inclusion: Though Lina and Malik live different lives, they are connected by the power of books; each with a story that holds a key to knowledge and imagination. Lina's Braille book and Malik's portable library came from the same vision; Kalimat Foundation's mission is to ensure every child can exercise their right to read, regardless of ability or circumstance; a vision rooted in the belief that stories heal, teach, and empower.
This International Youth Day, these children and countless others are able to nurture their dreams, page by page, and we celebrate their resilience, imagination, and courage to look beyond their immediate horizons.
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