Describe the main features of the measure/initiative:
Keeping with the UAE Board on Books for Young People’s (UAEBBY) goal to bring children and books together, as well as seeing a great need to provide support for underprivileged children around the world, the Kan Yama Kan initiative was launched.
"Kan Yama Kan," taken from the expression that is used to begin most Arabic children’s stories, is an initiative that aims to provide quality books to children in areas that suffer from difficulties in gaining access to books as a result of social or natural conditions, unrest, and wars. These books are to serve as a source of knowledge, entertainment, and psychological support.
Each year, in the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan, UAEBBY organizes book donation campaigns throughout the UAE. The books collected go through a filtration process; ensuring that only books of high literary and artistic quality are kept. Afterwards, UAEBBY works with its network of friends and partners to deliver inspiring books to children living in less fortunate circumstances around the world, according to an annually set plan. Kan Yama Kan aims to also aims to equip libraries with high quality books. So far, it equipped different libraries in India and Lebanon.
Furthermore, the UAEBBY first engaged with bibliotherapy under its Kan Yama Kan initiative.
Website of the measure/initiative, if available:
What are the results achieved so far through the implementation of the measure/initiative?:
Kan Yama Kan has been achieving its main purpose every year since its establishment, delivering books to children in less fortunate circumstances annually. Moreover, it equipped different libraries in India and Lebanon. Furthermore, it conducted a series of extensive bibliotherapy workshops resulting in the first Emirati bibliotherapists team. We also collaborated with established bibliotherapists, authors, publishers, psychologists, and psychiatrists to create an exhaustive list of Arabic books that could be used in bibliotherapy in general but especially aimed at children who suffered war. Moreover, the UAEBBY is in the process of producing the first Arabic bibliotherapy guide.