Reading Campaign for Omani Children

by Suzan Abrams

Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief for Gulf News reported yesterday that concerned by the wilfulness of Oman's younger generation's addiction to MP3 music, headphones and SMS texting as well as the swift advancement of a visual technology, sophisticated television sets and fast-paced lifestyles, the charitable organization Dar Al Atta'a (House of Giving) in Muscat have formed a Let's Read campaign. This to seriously encourage children to develop reading as an essential habit. The country's capital will pioneer as the pilot campaign in the series.

The motto of the campaign is to Catch them young, an ingenious move prompted by British author and social worker, Jane Jaffer. Jaffer who is married to an Omani has conceived an ambition to spur children to read and cherish thier storybooks even in the interior regions of the Gulf state. In this instance, there is an urgent attempt to raise funds for a mobile unit through the corporate sector although 10 volunteers stay enthusiastic and ready on the sidelines. Childrens' literature both in Arabic and English are being sought for although Jaffer laments that there are not enough Omani writers, publishing childrens' stories with that much needed-local flavour.

You may catch more of this interesting article HERE.