Former champions recall unforgettable moments during their winning journey and the role of the Arab Reading Challenge in shaping their future
DUBAI, 21st October, 2018 (WAM) – Former champions of the Arab Reading Challenge initiative have charted the path to climbing to the podium in the largest reading demonstration of its kind in the Arabic language in the world, and entering the Golden Record of the list of honorees at the conclusion of each session of the Arab Reading Challenge, which was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him” in the year 2015, with the aim of enhancing the importance of reading among participating students at the national level. The Arab world and the world, developing mechanisms for understanding and expressing oneself in a sound Arabic language, endearing Arab youth to the Arabic language, encouraging them to use it in their daily dealings, and consolidating the love of knowledge, reading, and reading among new generations.
The former champions reviewed part of the positive impact that their participation in the Arab Reading Challenge, which falls under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation, had and its impact on their understanding of themselves and their awareness of their true abilities, enhancing their self-confidence and enabling them to make the right decision regarding their academic career, and defining their future ambitions. The champions also recalled prominent milestones during their path to success. Crowning, and they discussed the best methods that participants in the Arab Reading Challenge qualifiers should follow to hone their potential and achieve the maximum benefit from participation.
The champion of the Arab Reading Challenge in its second session, the Palestinian Afaf Al-Sharif, confirms that she learned from winning the title of the second session out of 7.4 million students from 26 countries, and from the experience of her participation in the competitions, to trust herself and the effort she makes to achieve her dreams, and not to allow anyone to doubt her abilities, or to allow frustration into her life.
Afaf Al-Sharif finished studying human medicine at Al-Quds University, fulfilling a dream she had since childhood. She says: “Winning the Arab Reading Challenge title was the beginning of my journey to study human medicine. After winning the competition, I passed the high school exam with distinction and got accepted to study medicine at Al-Quds University. I completed my studies and graduated in 2024.”
She added: “The secret to winning the title is my love for my country. Yes, it was the strong competition that pushed me to give my best so that Palestine came in first place… Winning the title has a special place in my heart and my life, as it crowned my love for reading, which accompanied me in my childhood years.”
Doctor Afaf Al-Sharif summarizes her journey with reading in one sentence: “Reading is life for the mind and soul,” addressing male and female students about to participate in the Arab Reading Challenge: “Know that you are all winners in what you read… The real treasure lies in the knowledge and wisdom that we read… Live the challenge experience and enjoy it, and the challenge will bring you together with readers like you, and you may form friendships that last even after years of participation.”
Moroccan Maryam Amjoun, who won the title of champion of the Arab Reading Challenge in its third session, at the conclusion of competitions in which 10.5 million students from 44 countries participated, says that the most prominent lesson she learned from participating and winning the title is “that perseverance makes a difference, and that every hour I spend with a book opens up new horizons for me that I could not have imagined.”
Maryam Amjoun, a high school student, confirms that winning the title was the result of her deep passion for reading, commitment, organization, persistence, and her belief in her ability to obtain first place. She says: “Reading is the light that led me to discover myself, and gave me wings to soar toward the future.”
She adds: Winning left an unforgettable mark on my life, and was a major turning point in my career. On a personal level, it increased my self-confidence and made me see reading as a weapon for building my personality. On an academic level, it gave me motivation to be more accomplished and distinguished. When I look today at what I have achieved, I feel proud, but also responsible, because the knowledge I gained was not only for myself, but to share it with others and leave a positive impact.
Maryam Amjoun addresses every male and female student by saying: “Open your hearts to books, and let the words instill in you confidence, awareness, and dreams… Read with the eyes of dreamers, with the minds of researchers, and with the determination of heroes… and you will discover that the book is the most powerful weapon that gives you the ability to build a future worthy of your dreams.”
Maryam points out that winning the title of Champion of the Arab Reading Challenge gave her opportunities to participate in media meetings, attend international events, and get to know thinkers and writers from different parts of the world, and that reading taught her critical thinking and gave her the ability to analyze.
Jordanian Abdullah Muhammad Murad Abu Khalaf, the champion of the Arab Reading Challenge in its fifth session, which witnessed the participation of more than 21 million students from 52 countries, considers that his victory in the title was the result of persistence, determination and sacrifice, which he continues to do until now, as he studies human medicine at the University of Mutah in Jordan.
The fifth-year student at Mu’tah University says: The Arab Reading Challenge and winning its title had a profound impact on my personality, and to this day I am still defined by this achievement. I was able to unleash my energies and potential. In fact, reading created me, shaped my personality, changed my motivations towards life, raised the ceiling of my dreams, and matured my judgments about everything around me.
Abdullah Abu Khalaf points out that winning the title of Arab Reading Challenge Champion gave him great opportunities to travel and showcase his experience, and be hosted by dozens of television channels and social media platforms to talk about reading and the Arabic language, and actively contribute to the success of several cultural events in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, as well as introducing the Arab Reading Challenge initiative and encouraging participation in its qualifiers.
Abdullah Muhammad Murad Abu Khalaf urges students who intend to participate in the Arab Reading Challenge competitions to “read for themselves and not for anything else, to read to change, and to take care of their language and identity.”
Syrian Sham Al-Bakour, the champion of the Arab Reading Challenge in its sixth session, which witnessed the participation of 22.27 million students from 44 countries, calls on everyone who wants to participate in the Arab Reading Challenge competitions, to make reading a way of life, not a temporary duty, and to embrace it with passion, in order to build the self and expand the horizons of thinking. She says to the people of her generation: “Do not wait for you to grow up to make a difference… Make the difference, so that you can grow for it.” Believe in yourself, and start today, even with a small step.”
Sham Al-Bakour learned many things from her reading and participation in the Arab Reading Challenge, the most important of which is that there is not one giant step, but rather a group of small steps, and that talent is just a starting point and a person must continue to work on developing this talent.
Sham attributes the reasons for her winning the title to making reading a daily habit, and being influenced by inspiring stories about willpower and perseverance, and she believes that being crowned with the title gave her the motivation to continue her diligence and excellence.
Sham Al-Bakour says: “Reading made me see the world with different eyes. Every book was a window into another person’s experience. I remember that I was reading the story of a person about how he was able to discover the world with his mind and contemplation alone. I then realized that the greatest asset you possess is your ability to think, and since that time I have changed, and I no longer search for ready-made answers, but rather search for meaning.”
After winning the sixth tournament title, Sham received scholarships, participated in media interviews, and attended international conferences, during which she learned about new cultures and experiences.
Emirati Amna Mohammed Al Mansouri, the champion of the reading challenge in its seventh session, shared equally with Qatari Abdullah Mohammed Al Berri, out of 24.8 million students from 46 countries, summarizes the reason for her winning the title in one sentence: “The most important thing that a challenge champion must have and arm with is a sincere love for books and reading,” adding: “I was an avid reader since childhood and my concept of reading was not directly linked to the competition, but after years of… While reading, I found that I have a passion and love for participation… This challenge is not looking for a contestant who reads to be crowned, but a student who reads to live.”
Amna, who is today a second-year student at Khalifa University of Science and Technology and specializes in applied physics, confirms that winning the title of champion of the Arab Reading Challenge gave her greater confidence to discuss books, developed her skills in presenting ideas, and represented a qualitative breakthrough for her to achieve new achievements in the fields of sports, literature, language, and reading, as well as in the fields of science such as physics, mathematics, and others. Amna Al-Mansouri says: “Yahya When a person reads, he loses himself running in the rush of life if he turns away from the book.
Regarding the main advice that Amna Al Mansouri can give to those who intend to participate in the Arab Reading Challenge, she says: “Do not focus your attention and attention on winning, but try to benefit and learn as much as you can during this experience… Remember that trying and striving are an integral part of this challenge. Do not close your eyes to the skills you gain by participating in the Arab Reading Challenge and make winning alone a goal, in the end.” The Arab Reading Challenge aims to consolidate the status of the book and not just honor a winner.”
Abdullah Muhammad Al-Bari, the champion of the Reading Challenge in its seventh session, said, addressing the participants in the Arab Reading Challenge: “Enter the challenge with hearts that love reading, not with competing minds. Competition is temporary, but reading is a permanent life that builds minds, nourishes souls, and advances nations… Make the book your companion, and your determination a motivation towards glory and knowledge.”
Abdullah, who is today a student in the first year of secondary school, considers that the most prominent lesson he learned from the experience of participating and winning the title of Arab Challenge Champion is that reading is not a luxury, but rather a complete life, through which minds are built, values are preserved, and nations rise. He also realized that perseverance is the secret of glory, and that whoever makes the book a companion does not know defeat.
Abdullah Al-Bari confirms that his victory in the title was the result of an unquenchable passion and relentless discipline, and he adds: “I believe that the pursuit of knowledge is not limited by stages, nor is it stopped by certificates. Every book is a new school, and every line is an additional teacher… Reading shaped my personality with depth and poise, expanded my understanding, and deepened my insight, so I began to build my thoughts on argument and proof, not on whims, and I see the world with the eyes of An attentive examiner… I did not read to be called a reader, and I did not work hard or persevere just for the sake of competition, but I stayed up nights to raise the name of my country, my name, and my family, and the natural result of that was victory.”
He also confirms that the victory gave him solid self-confidence and opened the horizons of expression and dialogue before him. In the academic aspect, he became more focused, stronger in argument, deeper in understanding, and able to analyze and deduce. The victory also gave him valuable opportunities to meet international thinkers and writers, make media appearances, and participate in cultural lectures and workshops.
The champions of the eighth session of the Arab Reading Challenge, which attracted 28.2 million students from 50 countries, namely Hatem Muhammad Jassim Al-Turkawi from Syria, Kadi Bint Misfer Al-Khathami from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Salsabil Hassan Sawalha from Palestine, talk about several lessons they learned from participating and winning the title of the eighth session, most notably that the path to success passes through determination and perseverance, and that there is no word impossible when there is the will.
Hatem Al-Tirkawi narrates part of his journey to win the title of Arab Reading Challenge Champion: “I grew up among members of an educated family. I took a piece of information from here and a phrase from there.. Memorizing and reciting the Holy Qur’an gave me eloquence and the ability to understand and analyze. I participated since I heard about the initiative in the seventh season, but the doors did not open for me at that time, so I participated again and doubled my reading and self-development, and thank God it culminated in that.” “The effort to win the greatest challenge…the Arab Reading Challenge.”
Hatem points out the importance of the information he gained during his participation in the Arab Reading Challenge, considering that the books he read in literature, history, and geography, and the stories of scientists and the most prominent inventions that changed human life for the better, contributed to strengthening his confidence in his ability to obtain first place.
Hatem Al-Tarkawi calls on everyone who wants to participate in the Arab Reading Challenge not to give in to the challenges, and the need to cling to hope, repeat the attempt, and be patient and determined. He says: “Everyone who reads a book is a winner.”
Kadi Al-Khathami says that winning the title of the eighth session of the Arab Reading Challenge taught her that “there are no limits to human potential,” and the middle school student points out that winning was achieved through perseverance, diligence, and self-confidence to achieve ambitions.
She added: Winning the title of champion of the Arab Reading Challenge in its eighth session contributed to refining my personality and added a lot to me and my linguistic and cognitive achievements. My victory also had a great impact in the academic field. I became more confident in what I offer, more aware of my strengths and weaknesses. Winning the title of the Arab Reading Challenge created a new challenge in my life.
Kadi Al-Khathami considers the journey with reading to be a qualitative cognitive shift. She says: “Reading is a developmental tool that gives the reader the ability to think and fluency in expression. It is a window that opens you to rich worlds. It has had a positive impact on everything I have achieved until I became aware of my choices and decisions.”
The champion of the Arab Reading Challenge in its eighth session pointed out that winning the title represented a strong motivation for her to engage in new experiences, including media meetings or participation in several cultural events.
As for Kadi Al-Khathami’s advice to anyone who wants to participate in the Arab Reading Challenge competitions, it is: “You are close to your dream, and the dream is not far away as long as there is a serious intention and continuous endeavor. Trust in God and then in your ability to achieve success.”
Salsabil Hassan Sawalha remembers with great pride that she participated more than once in the Arab Reading Challenge qualifiers, until she was able to achieve her dream and win the title of champion of the challenge in its eighth session.
Salsabil, a first-year university student in mechatronics engineering, describes winning the title of champion of the Arab Reading Challenge as “a great journey filled with the resources of our experience, but the secret was in always striving to challenge and race the limits where I thought the end lay. In the beginning, I was striving to master my Arabic language, and then ambition grew, and the challenge became to be my own thought, and in that quest journey you find yourself a champion.” For the Arab Reading Challenge, winning left many effects on me, but the most important of them is the feeling that you are able to achieve your goal.”
Salsabil Sawalha advises anyone who wants to participate in the Arab Reading Challenge to “trust in God and do everything in his power, not to reach the title, but to follow his own path and obtain the sciences and knowledge capable of illuminating his heart and mind.”
Salsabil asserts that her academic and cognitive achievements after winning the title of Arab Reading Challenge champion “were an extension of the success of her plans in the Arab Reading Challenge, and I consider winning the title a defining moment that paves the way for new milestones to come.”
Regarding the impact that intensive reading had on her personality, the heroine of the eighth session says: “Reading builds my knowledge, controls my questions, and urges me to complete what I want and to continue searching for it.”
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