We Love Reading is a village that spans the globe, where its ambassadors gather everywhere. This was not the first time Dr. Rana Dajani encountered one of the program’s ambassadors; it had happened repeatedly wherever she went.
At the Qatar National Library, the program’s ambassador Reham Al-Kiyali met Dr. Rana Dajani by chance. Reham shared her story with We Love Reading, a journey akin to diving deep into the world of reading, harnessing every aspect to rise to a position where she became a pioneer and leader in her community. No channel or newspaper missed the opportunity to share her inspiring story.
Beginnings in Amman
Reham received We Love Reading training in Amman in 2017. She now lives in Doha, mother of three, committed to nurturing their Arabic language skills through read-aloud sessions. She has always dedicated her summer vacations to skill development and specialized courses. She was especially seeking high-quality reading training and, according to Reham, she found nothing comparable to We Love Reading, which she describes as the most rewarding training she has ever experienced, helping her discover herself. She says:
“The impact of the training on my life is indescribable, and how a simple step can open so many doors.”
From a Single Session to a Community of Readers
For Reham, the training and read-aloud sessions gave her self-confidence and a sense of responsibility to share the joy of reading with the community. She immediately launched a social media page called “ The Happy Minds” to share valuable information and knowledge about reading.
She began reading Arabic stories in her children’s schools and observed the impact on children’s focus, inspiring her to do even more. She combined storytelling with handcrafts, creating characters related to the stories, making her sessions unique. Educational institutions, libraries, and museums started reaching out to collaborate with her for read-aloud sessions.
Sometimes only one child would attend a session, yet she never gave up, and eventually, neighborhoods came to expect her sessions regularly with their children.
Reham appeared on television as a specialist in reading for children, sharing her initiatives to develop reading culture, including on Al Jazeera and Qatar TV, discussing the importance of reading and how personal skills can be connected to higher goals.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she paused temporarily, but returned with constant innovation. She focused on changing mindsets about reading for children, enrolling in communication training to learn how to convey her ideas effectively. She joined the Qatar Reads initiative and is now working on a major project focusing on family reading.
During visits to Jordan, she also conducted reading sessions in camps using handcrafts to reach all communities. One of the most impactful experiences was that for many children, it was their first time using glue and crafting tools, highlighting the importance of We Love Reading reaching every community.
Reham concludes her story expressing gratitude for the path she started. She believes that without We Love Reading she would not have had the confidence to begin this journey, which became a window to the world. She aspires to invite every mother to experience the program, which provides confidence and a true starting point, emphasizing that a woman can change an entire community through a simple step.
Through the pages she reads, Reham Al-Kiyyali continues her mission, constantly innovating without altering the essence of the idea, affirming that reading is not just a hobby, but a way of life that shapes minds and transforms communities.