00:30Doha International Book Fair
01:00This 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,
01:19where 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
01:33and check out all of our facilities and services inside the building itself.
01:38In 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.
01:48Walking 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 The Right to Inspire,
02:03and 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
02:12to 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
02:22that can also bring new connections in the community.
02:26What 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,
02:37get 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,
02:47aimed 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,
03:03where we deliver specifically curated reading packages to their homes
03:07according to their age group and their language preference.
03:10A big emphasis in the campaign is nurturing bilingualism amongst the local population.
03:17To do that, Qataris 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,
03:30we do this a lot through the One Book and Doha campaign.
03:32And whether it's in Arabic or English,
03:34it's important for us to highlight that these titles actually originated from the Arabic language.
03:39For example, our title in 2023 was Haybin Yaqdan.
03:42Some people would know it as Tarzan or Mokli,
03:45but they don't know that it's an original text that was written 100 years ago
03:48and it originates from the character of Haybin 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,
03:59both in Qatar and abroad through 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,
04:26and 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,
04:41no 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.
04:50I caught up with Mariam Mubarak Aldarwish, the Development Project Engineer,
04:57who explains the importance of investing in young talent.
05:01Can you tell us more about the Qatar Scholarships Programme and what it aims to achieve?
05:07The Qatar Scholarship Programme led by Qatar Fund for Development
05:11offers fully funded higher education opportunity to talented students
05:16from underserved and conflict-affected communities.
05:19Its goal is to give those students access to quality education,
05:24help them build the skills they needed to succeed,
05:26and empower them to contribute meaningfully to the community.
05:31The programme supports both academic excellence and personal growth,
05:35equipping the students to make a lasting impact at home and beyond.
05:40There was a recent batch of graduates from that scholarship programme.
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 the students who got the chance to meet
05:56former US President Barack Obama after joining a leadership programme.
06:01For these students who 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 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
06:31is ensuring children in conflict zones still get access to learning.
06:36How is QFFD helping in this aspect and also to advocate for more organisations 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,
06:54We support mobile schools, remote learning tools and spaces where children can continue their education,
07:03even in the most difficult conditions.
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.
07:23The annual celebration of literature at the Doha International Book Fair brings global perspectives to Qatar.
07:35It 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.
07:48Reflecting the fair's growing international appeal,
07:51The Doha International Book Fair has become an annual tradition for the French Institute in Qatar.
07:57We have a big number of French community.
08:01So just we want to make sure that they can find some resources.
08:06And for those who don't know the French culture,
08:09they 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
08:19and to meet other cultures maybe also.
08:24This year, the Palestinian Pavilion is the guest of honor,
08:28introducing 11 Palestinian publishers to the Qatari audience.
08:32Visitors could learn more about the country's culture and history with displays of traditional clothing,
08:54a timeline of historical events and cultural symbols.
08:58A
09:27Al-Halbouni market
09:3215 librerisinde
09:33Al-Halbouni street
09:35in Syria
09:36known for its extensive collection
09:37of rare and historical books
09:39for many of the vendors here
09:41these libraries represent
09:42some of the most important
09:44and prestigious institutions
09:45in the Arab world
09:46unique manuscripts
09:49classic literature
09:50and historical works
09:52that could be found
09:52in one of Damascus' oldest markets
09:54are on display in Doha
09:56Jamal Muhammad Nassif
09:58opened his bookstore in Syria
10:00more than a half century ago
10:26Nassif is hopeful that
10:30despite a lengthy civil war
10:32there are better days
10:33on the horizon
10:34for his homeland
10:35back at the France pavilion
10:47children's author and illustrator
10:48Elza Mosovic hosted French book readings
11:05in pop-up workshops
11:06J'ai eu l'idée de faire ce livre
11:08quand ma fille
11:09elle était petite
11:09et que je lui lisais
11:10des histoires
11:11quand elle était bébé
11:11voilà
11:12j'ai voulu
11:14créer un livre
11:15en forme de triangle
11:16parce que je trouvais
11:17que ça serait intéressant
11:18de voir comment
11:19un autre pliage
11:20se déroule
11:21et ça marche
11:22assez bien
11:22quand on lit
11:23parce qu'en général
11:24ils se mettent tous
11:25à crier
11:26le nom des animaux
11:27et ça devient
11:28très joyeux
11:28et c'est ce que je cherche
11:30en faisant des livres
11:30avec les enfants
11:31c'est de créer
11:32des moments de joie
11:33et de partage
11:34ludique avec eux
11:36From exploring
11:39what a library
11:40of the future
11:40could look like
11:41to seeing
11:42how cultural exchanges
11:43can be a powerful tool
11:44for education
11:45we hope you've enjoyed
11:46this episode
11:47but that's all the time
11:48we have for now
11:48For more
11:49check out
11:50euronews.com
11:51and connect with us
11:51through our hashtag
11:52Thanks for watching
11:53and we'll see you next time
11:55on Kata 365
Yorumlar