5th Used Book Fair, an Invitation to Donate Books

5th Used Book Fair, an Invitation to Donate Books

Volunteer and Partner with SCHS to Endorse Reading & Preserve Books

Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) is finalizing preparations for the Fifth Used Book Fair which is going to be organized from February, 26th to March 1st 2013, in the Palm Garden at Lake Khaled in collaboration with Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq). 

Her Highness Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Vice President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and Director General of SCHS, directed heads of organizing committees to evaluate previous book fairs, find advantages and disadvantages, and set up plans in order to improve this year’s Used Book Fair. 

With a number of objectives, including promoting the habit of reading through low priced books, planting the spirit of volunteerism in the minds of youth as well as raising funds to support the services and programs which SCHS provides to people with disabilities 5th Used Book Fair will begin on the 26th of February, 2013.  

It provides cultural and educational services to the entire community through recycling books. 

SCHS aims at integrating people with disabilities, encouraging volunteerism and introducing disabled students to public and private schools.

Jihad Abdel Qader directed his sincerest thanks to SCHS’s partners and 5th Used Book Fair sponsors and asked individuals and organizations to contribute to the event, which is organized to advance the academic knowledge of people through donating books.  He commented, “before collecting and receiving donated books, SCHS organizes a number of activities such as an informative campaign to get in touch with the public and motivate them to donate books. 

We receive donations at SCHS premises in Al Yarmouk Area. 

There is also the following number 06-5669966 for those who are interested or have the desire to participate or donate books”. 

To conclude, Jihad asked individuals and institutes to protect the accumulative knowledge of human beings and endorse the value of books as a source of information.

This year the Used Book Fair is targeting a variety of organizations, schools, universities, centers, and charities in partnership with Sharjah Educational Zone, Sharjah Municipality, Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, and Youth Centers.

The partnerships and event maintains several objectives including; promoting the reading as a habit through offering low priced books, planting the spirit of volunteerism within youth and raising funds to support the services and programs which SCHS provides to people with disabilities.

Mona Abdel Kareem, Head of Public Schools Committee, believes the event provides cultural and educational services to the entire community.  She stated, “SCHS aims at integrating people with disabilities, encouraging volunteerism, and introducing disabled students to public and private schools.  Moreover, the Used Book Fair will provide financial support to SCHS through its revenues”. 

She also mentioned participation conditions which include donating books that are in good condition. Magazines and periodicals are excluded. 

Students who donate more than 20 books will receive a certificate in order to motivate them for further participation in such activities as well as allow them to feel the value of books.  Individuals, bodies, and institutes assisting in collecting books will be honored as well.

Another privilege for taking part in the Used Book Fair, according to Mona, would be the organizations or entities ability to be advertised before and throughout the event on fliers, banners and various other forms of media. 

Al Khaleej Newspaper will publish a quarter add page in color for the Used book Fair including its name and logo of these schools. 

As for pricing, it will begin from 3 AED for stories and books to 20 AED for references. 

Decorations will be left to participants to decide within the Organizing Committee standards.

February 20th 2013, is the current deadline to receive books and register participants.  

Furthermore, a special brochure with information about participants will be given to visitors in order to facilitate their certificate. 

Public and private schools can coordinate with Mohammad Bakr, Head of Activities and Programs Committee, for supplementary activities. 

Mona asked participating individuals and volunteers to commit begin at 10:00 AM and ends at 10:00 PM for their participation. 

They should work in harmony and cooperation in order to reflect a positive image of this cultural, intellectual and educatiional activity.  She recommended organizing shifts within the concept of team work. 

Khadeja Bamakhramah, Head of Centers, Institutes, and Charities Committee, spoke about participation standards. 

Schools which donate less than 2000 books will have one booth and those which donate over 2000 will have two booths and a certificate of their achievement.

Receiving books will be conducted directly through organizing committees. 

SCHS is going to organize the closing ceremony to honor its partners, sponsors and participants.  Commemorative gifts and certificates will be given to schools with the best organization, sales and commitment. 

Ahmed Shaheen Hosni, from Youth Centers, invited educational institutes to contribute and take part in the 5th Used Book Fair for the entertainment activities which will take place on the fair’s main stage in order to amuse and attract visitors.  He confirmed Youth Centers’ desires to cooperate and support this activity. 

Mona Abdel Kareem renewed her invitation to all schools, universities, centers and charities to work hard and volunteer to protect books, spread the habit of reading among the general public and raise funds to support the services SCHS provides to people with disabilities.

Jihad Abdel Qader, Coordinator for the Fifth Used Book Fair taking place on February 26th to March 1st 2013 in the Palm Garden at Lake Khaled in collaboration with Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), believes the fair will raise people’s awareness regarding culture, knowledge and volunteerism. 

The event is an invitation to collect the largest number of new, used, non-school books in order to instill the importance of volunteer efforts by students, parents and professionals. 

A number of objectives hold importance including: promoting the habit of reading through low priced books, planting the spirit of volunteerism in the minds of youth as well as raising funds to support the services and programs which SCHS provides to people with disabilities.

The 5th Used Book Fair will begin on the 26th of February, 2013.  It provides cultural and educational services to the entire community. 

According to the instructions of Her Highness Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Vice President of Supreme Council for Family Affairs and Director General of SCHS, books should be classified according to subject, not according to the institutions or individuals who donated it.  For example, there will be a section for literature, humanities and politics.  This will make it easy for visitors to locate books.  Donators are going to be notified in order to classify books according to this system. 

Jihad encouraged schools, institutions, and charities to contribute to the event.  Books are to be received at SCHS.  There is also the following number 06-5669966 for those who are interested or have the desire to participate or donate books. 

Senior management for the fair has called upon public and private bodies, sponsors and other organizations to support this cultural, social and noble activity.

They’ve also invited individuals to donate books in order to spread knowledge among the largest number of people. 

Mohammad Faouzi, Head of the Private Schools Committee, mentioned his committee has managed to attract 25 private schools and two universities since October, 2012. 

It is working to attract more schools and universities. He mentioned the press conference which SCHS organized on December to explain the main idea and objectives of this fair to over 50 representatives of schools, clubs, universities and other institutes. 

He also invited everyone to contribute to this event.  Mohamed Al-Nabulsi, Head of the Volunteer Committee, said that his committee aims at recruiting volunteers from the age of 14 and above to work at the 5th Used Book Fair. 

There is much work to be done in order to present a positive image of this event.  Volunteers are welcome to work in any division at any time.

Mohamed provided the following number (050-1704250) and e-mail (Nabulsi@sch.org.ae) for those interested or those who maintain the desire to volunteer in this event which endorses the culture of volunteerism in the United Arab Emirates.

If interested in participating, you may also contact me on + 97150 8122319 to know more about this event and how you can volunteer and participate.