Bodour Al Qasimi Presides Over Kalimat Foundation Board Meeting To Discuss Future Strategies

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the Founder and Chairperson of Kalimat Foundation (KF), led the foundation's second Board of Trustees meeting at Najd Al-Maqsar in Khorfakkan. The meeting focused on the foundation's achievements this year and outlined its 2025 strategy. This strategy aims to enhance the foundation's global cultural and humanitarian impact by providing quality educational materials in Arabic for young Arab refugees and accessible formats for blind and visually impaired readers.

The meeting was attended by key members of the KF Board, including Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Vice-President; Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Treasurer; Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan Al Nahyan, Head of Awareness and Advocacy Committee; Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Secretary General; Dr. Muhadditha Al Hashimi; Mohamed Abdalla; and Mr. Fuad Mansoor Sharaf, Head of Programs and Events Committee.

During her address, Sheikha Bodour highlighted the foundation's crucial role in today's world. "The struggles faced by many communities today make the KF’s mission more vital than ever," she stated. "Through the provision of books and reading opportunities to children in difficult circumstances, we are doing far more than imparting knowledge; we are instilling hope and shaping a brighter future. Our commitment is to empower them to rise above adversity and chase their dreams, no matter the odds."

Reflecting on 2024, Sheikha Bodour celebrated the foundation's significant progress. "2024 has been a year of meaningful progress," she noted. "Our programmes have touched the lives of thousands of children globally, and we have fortified partnerships with organisations dedicated to ensuring that books are accessible to visually disabled children." Looking forward, she expressed determination to expand efforts further in 2025.

The board reviewed KF’s achievements in 2024 under its Pledge a Library initiative. This programme provides portable libraries containing 100 Arabic books to forcibly displaced children. In 2024, ten new libraries were distributed in countries like Italy, Greece, and the United States.

The "Ara" initiative was also discussed during the meeting. It launched an awareness campaign for inclusive education with partners like the Ministry of Education and Sharjah Private Education Authority. KF added 20 audiobooks to their accessible library to support blind children or those with print disabilities.

Supporting Palestinian Children

The meeting highlighted results from the "Stitching Hope for Gaza" campaign aimed at aiding Palestinian children affected by conflict. This effort was conducted in partnership with the UAE Red Crescent. Additionally, developments related to the "Awareness and Charity Roadshow" were discussed.

This roadshow toured government entities across UAE showcasing merchandise created with Emirati artist Mohammed Al Mansoori. Proceeds from this initiative aim to support Arab refugee children.

Strategic Plans for 2025

The board discussed strategies for 2025 focusing on strengthening partnerships locally and internationally. These efforts aim to ensure Arabic literacy reaches more underserved communities worldwide while boosting awareness about KF’s vision.

Innovative initiatives were explored during discussions as potential ways to enhance children's reading experiences even under challenging conditions.

Following these discussions at Najd Al Maqsar—a historical site managed by Shurooq—board members joined Sheikha Bodour on a tour showcasing restored houses dating back approximately 100 years within Wadi Wishi near Khorfakkan.

With inputs from WAM