Expanding access to books
This step aligns with UAEBBY vision to promote children’s right to read and learn, and to expand access to books as a tool for learning and psychological support in environments facing difficult social or natural conditions, or suffering from unrest and war. This year’s campaign focuses on attracting high-quality titles suitable for various age groups, taking into account cultural and educational dimensions, ensuring that rich and inspiring content reaches the children most in need.
Donation boxes are located throughout Abu Dhabi at the Zayed Central Library, Al Bahia Library, Khalifa Park Library, Al Wathba Library, and Al Marfa Library, making it easy for community members to participate. In Sharjah, the Sharjah Public Libraries in Sharjah City, Khorfakkan, Kalba, Al Dhaid, Dibba Al Hisn, and Wadi Al Helo, as well as the House of Wisdom, are accepting book donations throughout the campaign. In Ajman, book donation boxes are available at the Ajman Cooperative Society branches in Al Jurf and Al Rumaila, as well as at the Federal Youth Authority centres: Ras Al Khaimah Youth Centre, Falaj Al Ma'lafi Youth Centre in Umm Al Quwain, and Murbeh Girls Centre in Fujairah.
Humanitarian platform
Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of UAEBBY, said: “Kan Yama Kan” initiative is no longer just a book donation campaign; it has become a humanitarian platform that redefines the role of books in times of crisis. We believe that stories can provide children with a safe space and restore some balance amidst a turbulent reality. Therefore, we are committed to selecting books that possess both intellectual and aesthetic value, opening windows of hope and imagination for children, regardless of the challenges they face.”
Al Aqroubi added: “Every year, we witness the tangible impact of this initiative on the lives of the children who receive the books, whether in terms of supporting their education or helping them recover psychologically. As crises spread across the world, our responsibility to strengthen this effort and work with our partners to ensure the books reach their destinations with the utmost organisation and efficiency is amplified. We urge all members of the community to actively participate, as every book donated today could make a lasting difference in a child’s future.”
Quality donations
The initiative employs a meticulous mechanism for sorting and preparing books to ensure their suitability for the target audiences in terms of language, content, and technical condition, before shipping them to the targeted areas in coordination with local and international partners. The campaign also aims to cultivate a culture of quality donations by guiding donors to select children's and young adult books of high literary and artistic quality that enhance reading and critical thinking skills. This aligns with the UAEBBY’s mission to support and elevate the children's book industry as a cornerstone in building generations of readers and creators.
Since its launch, "Kan Yama Kan" has successfully established a sustainable business model based on community partnership, good governance in managing donations, and impact measurement after the books reach children. This year, the campaign reaffirms its commitment to continuing this developmental approach by expanding participation and strengthening its presence in the local cultural landscape, thus solidifying the UAE's position as a hub for cultural initiatives with a global humanitarian dimension. With the opening of donations, the call is renewed for every individual and institution to contribute to writing a new chapter of a story that begins with the book and extends its impact on the life of every child.
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