The Kalimat Foundation donated a mobile Arabic library to the Hello Poland organization, to be a permanent source of reading and knowledge for children from the Arab community in Poland, and to allow them to access Arabic books that enhance their connection to their language and culture in an environment in which they live far from their homelands.
In the presence of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, founder and president of the Kalimat Foundation, the gift of the library came as part of the “Adopt a Library” initiative, through which Kalimat works to provide Arabic children’s books to institutions and community centers around the world, especially in societies where children face limited access to Arabic content that suits their ages and reading needs.
The dedication ceremony was organized at the National Library in Warsaw, on the sidelines of the Warsaw International Book Fair 2026.
“Hello Poland” received the library, a non-governmental organization based in the city of Wroclaw, which works in the educational field by providing lessons in the Arabic and Polish languages to members of the Arab community, in addition to organizing cultural and educational programs for children and adults from the Arab and Polish communities.
The ceremony included an introductory presentation of the Kalimat Foundation’s mission and the goals of the “Adopt a Library” initiative, in addition to an interactive workshop during which the children designed mini mobile libraries inspired by the donated library. The workshop gave each child a personal space to keep his favorite books, transforming the small library into a memory linked to this gift, and a companion who encourages him to read and return to his books over time. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi interacted with the children during the ceremony, and was briefed on the mini libraries they designed in the workshop. The ceremony also witnessed a motivational presentation about the importance of reading in the Arabic language, before concluding with a group photo that brought together the children and their families.
Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi said: “Every child has the right to enjoy reading in the language closest to his heart, and for Arab children who grow up far from their homelands, the Arabic book carries a meaning that goes beyond the boundaries of the story; “It is a bridge that connects them to their heritage, identity and roots.”
She added: “Through the (Adopt a Library) initiative, we are working to ensure that distance does not become an obstacle to the relationship between the child and the book. Reading contributes to shaping the way children think, enriching their imagination, and enhancing their understanding of the world around them. Our responsibility is to put the appropriate books in their hands wherever they are around the world.”
For his part, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hello Poland, Sofiane Kayali, expressed his appreciation for the initiative, adding: “The donation of the library represents a great support to our children and our community. When a child reads a book in Arabic here in Poland, he feels that his language is present, his culture is valued, and his belonging is part of his daily experience. The library provided by (Kalimat Foundation) will be an important resource for the families we serve, and in support of our organization’s mission of education and promoting communication between cultures. We are grateful to Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi and (Kalimat Foundation) for this generous initiative, and for their support for what we are working to build here.”
The donation of the library comes as part of Kalimat Foundation’s participation in the Sharjah Guest of Honor program at the Warsaw International Book Fair, which was organized over four days, during the period from May 28 to 31, and in line with its mission to enable children to access books in their mother tongue, especially in societies that suffer from limited availability of children’s books in the Arabic language.
The Foundation works, through the “Adopt a Library” initiative, to provide mobile Arabic libraries to institutions and community centers that serve children, which contributes to supporting reading and knowledge, and consolidating the presence of the Arabic language in the environments where children live outside the Arab world.
Art products
In support of “Adopt a Library,” the “Kalimat Foundation” displayed on its platform, within the Sharjah Pavilion at the Warsaw International Book Fair, the “Kalimat Foundation
The presence of the Kalimat Foundation in Poland is consistent with its commitment to consolidating the child’s right to read, as a right not limited by geography, language, or ability. This commitment extends to blind children and those with visual disabilities, through the production of accessible books that allow them to access knowledge by means that suit their reading and educational needs.
Bodour Al Qasimi:
• Through the “Adopt a Library” initiative, we work to ensure that distance is not an obstacle to the relationship between the child and the book, as reading contributes to shaping his way of thinking and enriching his imagination.
