00:00What the Doha Book Fair brings to us is the visitors and we get the chance to know about our audience more, get to know what do they like to read, what kind of activities they'd like to associate and engage with.
00:14We have a big number of French community. For those who don't know the French culture, they can also come to the Institute to discover the language also.
00:25Hello and welcome to Qatar 365 with me, Laila Humaira. On this episode, we're here at the Doha International Book Fair, where every year thousands of visitors come to seek knowledge, share their love for books and dive into the beauty of the written word.
00:45But first, I'm exploring how technology and artificial intelligence is becoming a real page-turner for libraries.
00:52The Qatar National Library is a veteran participant of the Doha International Book Fair.
00:59This year, the pavilion has returned with a few new spins that reimagine a future-ready library.
01:06From a virtual librarian to augmented reality, Qatar National Library is embracing technology.
01:12By tapping on artificial intelligence, Q&L is giving visitors a peek into its Library of the Future,
01:18where AI can give you book recommendations and even help you write your own novel.
01:24We also have the 360 virtual tour, which gives the visitors the opportunity to wander inside Q&L and check out all of our facilities and services inside the building itself.
01:37In addition to that, we have also the AI book recommendation tool,
01:41which gives the visitors the opportunity to explore book recommendations recommended by the AI itself.
01:47Walking around the pavilion, the theme comes to life, where it's not just about books,
01:53but also encouraging people to get their creative juices flowing, like the short story dispenser.
01:59It was done under an initiative called Write to Inspire, and we have opened this initiative to everyone in Qatar to submit their short stories.
02:08And we have supported many writers who are at the beginning of their journey to either publish their stories in Arabic and English.
02:15Q&L's long-running participation at the Doha Book Fair is one the Library hopes to be a lasting relationship that can also bring new connections in the community.
02:25What makes Q&L special is that it's a public library, a national library, and a research library.
02:31What the Doha Book Fair brings to us is the visitors, and we get the chance to know about our audience more,
02:38get to know what do they like to read, what kind of activities they'd like to associate and engage with.
02:42Another long-running national reading campaign is Qatar Reads, aimed at encouraging parents to instill the love for books in their children.
02:52Every year at the Doha International Book Fair at the Qatar Reads Pavilion,
02:56we always try to encourage parents to subscribe their children in our family reading program,
03:01which is targeted at kids ages 3 to 13, where we deliver specifically curated reading packages to their homes
03:07according to their age group and their language preference.
03:11A big emphasis in the campaign is nurturing bilingualism amongst the local population.
03:17To do that, Qatarites launched an initiative focused on Arabic literary classics.
03:23In order for us to preserve the Qatari culture and focus on the importance of getting to know Arabic literature titles,
03:29we do this a lot through the One Book on Doha campaign.
03:32And whether it's in Arabic or English, it's important for us to highlight that these titles actually originated from the Arabic language.
03:39For example, our title in 2023 was Hay bin Yaqdan.
03:42Some people would know it as Tarzan or Mokli, but they don't know that it's an original text that was written 100 years ago,
03:48and it originates from the character of Hay bin Yaqdan.
03:50So it's these tiny little facts that we want to plant as seeds into the minds of our children.
03:55In just six years, Qatar Reads has managed to gain quite a following, both in Qatar and abroad,
04:02through partnerships with other organizations like Qatar Museums.
04:06And the hope is that it will continue to spread knowledge that transcends borders.
04:10It makes my heart so happy to see our growth happening every year.
04:14And what's even better is that our impact is not only in Qatar,
04:17but it's also happening internationally with our partnerships with Years of Culture.
04:21We've seen our books go to Indonesia, go to the United States, go to Morocco, and this year going to Argentina.
04:31From exploring creativity through stories to shaping future-empowered leaders,
04:36Qatar is also committed to making education accessible to all children, no matter where they are.
04:43To date, the Qatar Fund for Development has supported more than 1,000 students globally
04:49through the Qatar Scholarships Programme.
04:52I caught up with Mariam Mubarak-Aldarwish, the Development Project Engineer,
04:57who explains the importance of investing in young talent.
05:02Can you tell us more about the Qatar Scholarships Programme and what it aims to achieve?
05:06The Qatar Scholarship Programme led by Qatar Fund for Development offers fully funded higher education opportunity
05:14to talented students from underserved and conflict-affected communities.
05:19Its goal is to give those students access to quality education,
05:24help them build the skills they need to succeed,
05:26and empower them to contribute meaningfully to the community.
05:30There was a recent batch of graduates from that scholarship program,
05:43more than 100 young, talented individuals.
05:47What are some impressive profiles or achievements from that batch of graduates?
05:51One story that stands out is about students who got the chance to meet
05:56Former U.S. President Barack Obama, after joining a leadership program for the students
06:02who come from a background shape by hardship and conflict,
06:06it was more than just a proud moment.
06:08It was a powerful reminder of how far determination and access to education can take someone.
06:14What's made it special?
06:16It wasn't just the recognition itself, but the journey that led there.
06:20Moments like this truly shows what Qatar Scholarships Programme is all about.
06:25Opening doors and helping young people believe in what's possible.
06:29One of the biggest challenges in the world at the moment is ensuring children in conflict zones
06:34still get access to learning.
06:36How is QFFD helping in this aspect and also to advocate for more organizations in the world
06:42to protect these children who are in the middle of conflict and war?
06:47This is really at the core of what we do at QFFD.
06:51In places affected by war and displacement, we support mobile school, remote learning tools,
06:59and spaces where children can continue their education, even in the most difficult condition.
07:06We believe schools should be a safe place for learning, not places of danger.
07:12No child should have to risk their life just to get an education.
07:16That's the message we want to share through our partnership, our platform, and everything we do globally.
07:23Education must be protected always.
07:26The annual celebration of literature at the Doha International Book Fair brings global perspectives to Qatar.
07:36It features more than 500 publishing houses along with many international bookstores.
07:42Adol Halim met with some of those exhibitors, visiting Qatar from both near and far.
07:47Reflecting the fair's growing international appeal, the Doha International Book Fair has become an annual tradition for the French Institute in Qatar.
07:56We have a big number of French community, so just we want to make sure that they can find some resources.
08:05And for those who don't know the French culture, they can also come to the Institute to discover the language also.
08:14We just want to keep this relation with the French language and culture and to meet other cultures maybe also.
08:22This year, the Palestinian Pavilion is the guest of honor, introducing 11 Palestinian publishers to the Qatari audience.
08:32Visitors could learn more about the country's culture and history with displays of traditional clothing, a timeline of historical events, and cultural symbols.
08:58Visitors could learn more about the traditional clothing, as well as the Palestinian Pavilion, as well as the Palestinian Pavilion, as well as the Palestinian Pavilion, as well as the Palestinian Pavilion.
09:16Visitors could learn more about the Palestinian Pavilion, as well as the Palestinian Pavilion, as well as the Palestinian Pavilion.
09:28Something new this year is the Al-Halbuni Market that features 15 libraries from the famous Al-Halbuni Street in Syria, known for its extensive collection of rare and historical books.
09:39For many of the vendors here, these libraries represent some of the most important and prestigious institutions in the Arab world.
09:46Unique manuscripts, classic literature, and historical works that could be found in one of Damascus' oldest markets are on display in Doha.
09:56Jamal Muhammad Nassif opened his bookstore in Syria more than a half century ago.
10:03We started from the 1970s to now, and we work in the cultural books, the journals, the journals, the journals, and the journals, and the journals.
10:10We work with art books.
10:14We have the books, the books, the books, the books.
10:19We have the big group of the country of the Christian country, and we are happy for the first time we come.
10:28Nassif is hopeful that despite a lengthy civil war, there are better days on the horizon for his homeland.
10:35What happened here in Syria for 14 years, this war-like war, the Shani'a, went to Mists, and opened a place in Lebanon.
10:44And we, the followers of Syria, were, of course, the followers of our messages that we didn't expect.
10:50And, God willing, now the progress will be the best after the attack and the Jewish country, God willing.
10:59Back at the France Pavilion, children's author and illustrator Elsa Mosevic hosted French book readings and pop-up workshops.
11:06I had the idea of making this book when my daughter was little and that I read her stories when she was a baby.
11:12That's it.
11:13I wanted to create a book in a triangle because I thought it would be interesting to see how another pliage goes.
11:21And it works quite well when we read it because, in general, they all cry the name of animals and it becomes very joyful.
11:28And that's what I'm looking for when I read books with children.
11:31It's to create moments of joy and of sharing with them.
11:35From exploring what a library of the future could look like to seeing how cultural exchanges can be a powerful tool for education,
11:45we hope you've enjoyed this episode, but that's all the time we have for now.
11:48For more, check out Euronews.com and connect with us through our hashtag.
11:52Thanks for watching and we'll see you next time on Tata 365.
11:58Thank you.
