Saudi Woman Creates Arabic Learning Game

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA
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Saudi Woman Creates Arabic Learning Game

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA

Driven by her passion for the Arabic language, Lujain Abulfaraj embarked on a mission to make it more engaging for children. Witnessing her son's disinterest in Arabic, she took it upon herself to come up with a solution, SPA reported.
In 2015, Abulfaraj enrolled in a design program dedicated to exploring the beauty of Arabic calligraphy and its potential as an educational tool. Realizing its capacity to be both entertaining and instructive, she created a game featuring large Arabic letters that could be arranged into words and used for play.
This endeavor led her to establish a venture aimed at enriching language learning for children. In 2020, she introduced "Akwan" (universes in Arabic), a set of magnetic bricks inspired by Arabic calligraphy designed to make learning interactive and enjoyable for children.
During the Riyadh International Book Fair, Abulfaraj, speaking to an SPA reporter, highlighted the boundless creative possibilities that "Akwan" offers children. She commended the Ministry of Culture for its efforts in revitalizing Saudi culture, particularly the language, and for supporting young talent in the country.
Acknowledging her dedication, the Ministry of Culture nominated Abulfaraj for the 2023 Cultural Awards in architecture and design, where she emerged as one of the top three finalists in the Kingdom. Her work also received the "Designed in Saudi" seal.



'Riyadh Reads French' Initiative Brings French Culture to Riyadh International Book Fair

The Riyadh International Book Fair 2024 logo
The Riyadh International Book Fair 2024 logo
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'Riyadh Reads French' Initiative Brings French Culture to Riyadh International Book Fair

The Riyadh International Book Fair 2024 logo
The Riyadh International Book Fair 2024 logo

The Riyadh International Book Fair 2024 featured the return of the "Riyadh Reads French" initiative, which was introduced the previous year and gathered numerous French publishers specializing in various fields.

The initiative garnered significant attention and attracted a large number of visitors to the fair.

The French Embassy’s communication officer in Saudi Arabia, Alsaeed Ezz, elaborated that this year's edition aimed to enhance the experience and expand activities, with a particular focus on children. The initiative included over 25,000 books in its pavilions, with 118 French publishing houses participating. Additionally, the Alliance Francaise in Riyadh offered free French language courses to fair visitors, aiming to bring the French language and culture closer to Saudis and all fair attendees.

Ezz highlighted that the Alliance Francaise had dedicated a fully integrated section for children to cater to their needs and knowledge aspirations, with specialized supervisors offering activities such as drawing, reading, and expression to familiarize the younger generation with the French culture.

The initiative also involved Campus France, a national office facilitating registration procedures for studying in French universities and educational institutions. Campus France collaborated with relevant Saudi authorities to introduce available scholarship programs for studying in both English and French, as well as the requirements for obtaining bachelor's and master's degrees and conducting research in various fields.

This year's Riyadh International Book Fair saw a participation from over 2,000 publishing houses and agencies from the Kingdom, the region, and around the world, occupying 800 pavilions representing over 30 countries.