Pupils read 1.3 million books to help build libraries

A charitable challenge in Dubai has exceeded its target to encourage UAE children to read one million books in two weeks to help children in poorer countries. The Dubai Cares Million Book Challenge promised it would buy a new book for a child in need for every book read by pupils at government and private schools in Dubai, Ras al Khaimah, Al Ain and Sharjah. Reem al Hashimy, the chairwoman of Dubai Cares' board of directors, said 141,415 pupils from 159 schools had read 1,323,218 books during the challenge.

Dubai Cares will now place books in more than 1,000 libraries which it plans to build and equip around the world. Ms Hashimy said: "By creating libraries, Dubai Cares is providing sustainable community centres of learning which effectively extend the reach of each book, maximising the impact for students and their communities for generations." The charity is offering Dubai residents an opportunity to build on the efforts of the country's pupils by sponsoring a book for Dh10 by calling 800 DXB CARES or through participating bookstores.

Ms Hashimy, the former deputy UAE ambassador to the United States, said the charity's next campaign would not be aimed at raising funds but at encouraging people to volunteer in educational programmes in the Arab world. @Email:[e-mail]