More than 150 DWC students participate in 'Reading in Schools' community service project

Around 150 Dubai Women’s College (DWC) Diploma Year 1 students participated recently in a community service project ‘Reading in Schools’. “Reading in Schools” Project is a student-run endeavor For the third year in a row, around conducted in partnership with 7 government primary schools. This project was initiated to foster the spirit of volunteering and raising awareness of Corporate Social Responsibility and in response to the need for promoting reading in the UAE. The outcome of the project was to have Diploma students setting up and conducting English Reading activities with pupils in Grades 2 and 3. DWC Diploma students also donated around 80 children books to schools’ libraries.

Partnerships with community members had enhanced the success of the project. The renowned Emirati children’s book author Qais Sedki volunteered to present to DWC students effective techniques used when reading to children. The aim was to motivate children to read. DWC’s Bachelor of Education students have also given practical workshop training to the Diploma students on how to prepare and conduct reading activities for Emirati primary school students. Additionally, Magrudy’s bookstore has offered a 15% discount on children’s book purchases.

The Reading in Schools project was initiated to build up a culture of reading among young Emiratis who are the mothers of the next generation, and in support of the UAEs wider community initiatives such as Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, Dubai Cares ‘Million Book Challenge’, Knowledge Without Borders (KWB). “The reading in Schools Project has helped me in improving a lot of skills such as being confident when reading for children. I have also learned how to make reading fun and enjoyable”,  Mariam Sabt, Diploma year 1 student stated.

“This project provides DWC students with an opportunity to be effective agents of change in their society, able to transform challenges into rewarding experiences”, said Zadjia Zahi, DWC English Faculty. Cynthia Ogilvy, DWC English Faculty, also stated that, “Diploma students will be doing their community a great service if they can begin to instill a love of reading in the next generation of young Emiratis.”