Let's Read is a reading club in the Eastern Province that was initiated by two women with a mission to promote reading in the community and make good books the center of the daily lives of children, adolescents, and adults. Two women, Shaimaa Fouad and Fatima Abu Sorair, had a vision of bring people of different races, backgrounds, and career pursuits together on common ground: a love of reading, learning, sharing views, and exchanging knowledge across cultures. They believe that sharing a common interest will create unity and more active involvement in working towards a better society. Through the hard work and persistence of Fouad and Abu Sorair and other dedicated volunteers and generous donations, the reading club was launched in the year 2012. Today, Let's Read is a relaxing place with a wide range of enriching and inspirational books available to pick up and absorb, where thought-provoking book discussions ensue weekly and lively story times for children are held. All of these literary activities and more are offered to the reading club's members, free of charge. Among the goals that the reading club aims to achieve is helping young children discover that books are enjoyable, interesting, and valuable. The children at the club have gained many advantages that have been noted by their parents and the leaders of the reading club. The children's vocabulary has expanded and language skills and writing has improved. They are better able to express themselves and to communicate with their peers. Books had been previously abandoned by these kids but after joining the reading club, books have become an essential and indispensible part of their lives. Reading is no longer a tedious school task; it is a fun hobby. “We dream of opening a reading club in every district in every city and village in the Kingdom. The first word of Revelation sent to our nation as Muslims was ‘read'. We want our country to be a nation of readers,” said Abo Sorair. The benefits are not limited to young children. At the reading club, adolescents are learning useful skills that will significantly boost their college readiness, such as summarizing, writing book reports, researching, and preparing and giving presentations. Book lovers of all ages are welcome, from preschoolers to 40 year olds. During the meetings, lasting friendships are being made; friendships based on growing and developing intellectually and socially. A specific story or book is chosen that is appropriate for each age group and is read collectively by everyone in the group, which meets once a week. Questions, discussions, and an in-depth analysis follow the reading. Each book is carefully selected, with a positive and productive message to offer, such as promoting environmentalism or combating racism or bullying at school. After listening to the story, young children usually draw, color, or engage in art activities that reinforce the values taught in the book. In their attempt to avoid leaving out any segment of society, Braille books have been obtained as well and reading sessions for visually impaired children are held regularly. All in all, Let's Read club has received astoundingly positive feedback from the community and the spaces at the weekly reading sessions are rapidly filling up. “To get the message across to society that books are for everyone and for every place, we take a mobile library to several public places and we invite children and their parents to join us and read with us. We have taken attractive and colorful books to the beach, parks, shopping centers, and waiting rooms in hospitals. These visits raise awareness that reading is not only a sure way to sharpen up the mind, but reading is also fun,” said Abu Sorair. Building on the strengths of a greater number of people and to ensure success in reviving a nation of readers, more concerned individuals need to cooperate if they really want to raise the level of education, awareness, and readership in our society. For that reason, Let's Read club in the Eastern Province has teamed up with an established reading club in Riyadh. As a new coalition, they will collaborate efforts, share ideas and resources whenever possible, and hold similar public events in each city.
Impressed by the constructive impact in the community of Let's Read, the writer and leader of his own literary club in Riyadh, Dahham Al Enazi, has pledged to hop on board. He has become a staunch supporter and financial sponsor for these reading clubs that show great promise for the society in the Kingdom.
