I believe that most parents want their children to grow up liking to read, but wishes of course are often far from reality. Studies and researches show that mothers lack the awareness to teach their children — at a very early age — the importance of reading. There’s a common belief that children have no capacity to grasp and understand what they read. Keeping in mind that for a child to become a reader, he or she must adapt the habit from parents and not just listen to their verbal advice.

We can’t, however, compare the current generation with older ones. In old times, there were no technological temptations or distractions. There was no Internet, no satellite channels and nothing to occupy one’s spare time but books.

Nowadays, things have changed drastically. It has become more difficult to get our children to enjoy reading unless we ourselves enjoy reading and become role models for them. Little children can be taught to respect books and that respect is important.

I was informed that a new project named Al-Zomr has been launched. It’s great to know that we have a project with this level of educational and intellectual depth. The project offers charitable social services that rely on an innovative idea and an excited working team with a unique style of awareness to teach children the importance of reading. The group has clear goals and strategies that aim to encourage parents and educators to read and enjoy reading with their children. They also want to activate the role of libraries in schools, universities and community centers and develop appropriate plans and projects.

The best thing about the project is what the director Hana Husain outlined. The aim is that by the end of 2007, there will be 500 mothers reading to their children at least four times a week for 15 minutes.

The project targets two million children under the age of six. Such projects give us hope in the future and in our youth to build our society. I hope that it continues to blossom. Sometimes charitable projects don’t last long because they are financially and psychologically consuming.